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.
Developmental toxicology researchers, prenatal health educators, and clinicians advising patients on CBD use during pregnancy.
Decreased pup survival with fetal exposure
What the researchers 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.
Why it 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 numbers in context
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 the study worked
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).
What this study cannot 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.
How to read the evidence
Well-designed animal study with cross-fostering to isolate timing effects, but single dose level and inherent limitations of animal-to-human translation.
When this study was published
2025 publication
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.
Questions still open
- 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?
Common questions
Did CBD exposure during pregnancy affect pup survival?
Were male and female offspring affected differently?
Read the original research
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
Citation
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
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