Mice exposed to CBD during pregnancy or nursing showed sex-dependent behavioral and metabolic changes as adults
Oral CBD given to pregnant or nursing mice led to decreased pup survival and sex-dependent changes in memory, anxiety, and metabolism in adult offspring, with effects varying by timing of exposure.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Fetal CBD exposure significantly decreased pup survival to weaning. Adult male offspring exposed during gestation and lactation showed increased caloric intake and respiratory exchange ratio. Adult females showed increased obsessive-compulsive-like and decreased anxiety-like behaviors. Males showed decreased long-term object memory. Effects differed depending on whether exposure occurred during gestation, lactation, or both.
Key Numbers
CBD was detected in maternal plasma within 10 minutes (34.2 ng/ul) and peaked within 30 minutes (371.0 ng/ul). Pup survival decreased significantly with fetal CBD exposure. Male offspring showed increased meal size and caloric intake. Female offspring showed altered anxiety-related behaviors.
How They Did This
Primiparous female C57BL/6J mice received 100 mg/kg oral CBD in strawberry jam. Cross-fostering design separated gestation vs. lactation exposure. Offspring were metabolically profiled using indirect calorimetry and behaviorally phenotyped using established tests (marble burying, light-dark box, elevated-plus maze, object recognition).
Why This Research Matters
CBD is widely perceived as safe and is used by some pregnant or nursing women. This study provides animal evidence that perinatal CBD exposure can have lasting effects on offspring survival, metabolism, and behavior, effects that are sex-dependent and timing-dependent.
The Bigger Picture
As CBD products proliferate and are marketed as natural supplements, the assumption of safety during pregnancy lacks evidence. This animal study adds to growing concern that cannabinoid exposure during development may have lasting consequences.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Animal study results may not translate directly to humans. Single dose level (100 mg/kg) is high relative to typical human use. Cross-fostering design is rigorous but adds complexity to interpretation. Strain-specific effects cannot be ruled out.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do lower CBD doses produce similar effects?
- ?Are the sex-dependent effects related to hormonal differences in cannabinoid metabolism?
- ?Would these findings translate to human developmental outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Decreased pup survival with fetal exposure
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed animal study with cross-fostering to isolate timing effects, but single dose level and inherent limitations of animal-to-human translation.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication
- Original Title:
- Maternal ingestion of cannabidiol (CBD) in mice leads to sex-dependent changes in memory, anxiety, and metabolism in the adult offspring, and causes a decrease in survival to weaning age.
- Published In:
- Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 247, 173902 (2025)
- Authors:
- Compagno, Martina Krakora, Silver, Claudia Rose, Cox-Holmes, Alexis, Basso, Kari B, Bishop, Caroline, Bernstein, Amber Michal, Carley, Aidan, Cazorla, Joshua, Claydon, Jenna, Crane, Ashleigh, Crespi, Chloe, Curley, Emma, Dolezel, Tyla, Franck, Ezabelle, Heiden, Katie, Huffstetler, Carley Marie, Loeven, Ashley M, May, Camilla Ann, Maykut, Nicholas, Narvarez, Alejandro, Pacheco, Franklin A, Turner, Olivia, Fadool, Debra Ann
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06247
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did CBD exposure during pregnancy affect pup survival?
Yes. Fetal exposure to CBD significantly decreased pup survival to weaning age, though litter size and birth weight were not affected.
Were male and female offspring affected differently?
Yes. Males showed increased caloric intake and decreased long-term memory. Females showed changes in anxiety-related and compulsive-like behaviors. The sex-dependent effects also varied by whether exposure occurred during gestation, lactation, or both.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06247APA
Compagno, Martina Krakora; Silver, Claudia Rose; Cox-Holmes, Alexis; Basso, Kari B; Bishop, Caroline; Bernstein, Amber Michal; Carley, Aidan; Cazorla, Joshua; Claydon, Jenna; Crane, Ashleigh; Crespi, Chloe; Curley, Emma; Dolezel, Tyla; Franck, Ezabelle; Heiden, Katie; Huffstetler, Carley Marie; Loeven, Ashley M; May, Camilla Ann; Maykut, Nicholas; Narvarez, Alejandro; Pacheco, Franklin A; Turner, Olivia; Fadool, Debra Ann. (2025). Maternal ingestion of cannabidiol (CBD) in mice leads to sex-dependent changes in memory, anxiety, and metabolism in the adult offspring, and causes a decrease in survival to weaning age.. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior, 247, 173902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173902
MLA
Compagno, Martina Krakora, et al. "Maternal ingestion of cannabidiol (CBD) in mice leads to sex-dependent changes in memory, anxiety, and metabolism in the adult offspring, and causes a decrease in survival to weaning age.." Pharmacology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2024.173902
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Maternal ingestion of cannabidiol (CBD) in mice leads to sex..." RTHC-06247. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/compagno-2025-maternal-ingestion-of-cannabidiol
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.