Cannabis use by women during pregnancy does not influence infant DNA methylation of the dopamine receptor DRD4.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maternal cannabis use in pregnancy is linked with long-term adverse behavioral outcomes in offspring. Epigenetic processes established in utero that affect dopaminergic (reward) signaling may mediate risks. Associations between cannabis use and offspring DNA methylation have not been investigated; however, maternal tobacco smoking in pregnancy is associated with distinct patterns of DNA methylation at birth and beyond.

Objectives

To determine whether maternal cannabis use is associated with methylation of the dopamine receptor gene DRD4 promoter in infants.

Methods

Mothers in the Triple B study provided detailed information on drug use in each trimester of pregnancy. Buccal swabs were collected from neonates at 8 weeks (n = 804, 51.7% male, and 48.3% female

SUBMITTER: Fransquet PD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5706968 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature