Prenatal CBD exposure disrupted early development in mouse pups differently by sex
Mouse pups exposed to CBD in the womb showed sex-specific disruptions: males gained more weight and produced shorter calls, while females had impaired motor and discriminatory abilities.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Male pups from CBD-treated dams gained more weight than controls. Males emitted shorter ultrasonic calls while females made more high-frequency calls. CBD-exposed female pups showed reduced motor and discriminatory abilities in homing behavior tests. There were significant qualitative changes in the vocal repertoire of both sexes.
Key Numbers
CBD dose: 3 mg/kg daily from gestational day 5-18. Male pups gained more weight. Ultrasonic vocalizations measured at postnatal day 10. Homing behavior tested at postnatal day 13. Only females showed impaired motor and discriminatory abilities.
How They Did This
C57BL6/J mouse dams received daily CBD (3 mg/kg, subcutaneous) or vehicle from gestational day 5 to 18. Offspring were assessed for body weight, ultrasonic vocalizations (day 10), and homing behavior (day 13) using deep learning analysis.
Why This Research Matters
CBD use during pregnancy is increasing because CBD is widely perceived as safe. This study challenges that perception by showing sex-specific developmental disruptions in offspring exposed prenatally.
The Bigger Picture
These findings add to growing evidence that prenatal cannabinoid exposure, even with the "non-psychoactive" CBD, can alter neurodevelopment. The sex-specific pattern mirrors similar findings with THC exposure.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Mouse study with uncertain human relevance. Single CBD dose tested. Subcutaneous administration does not match typical human oral use. Short-term behavioral measures may not predict long-term outcomes. Small number of behavioral tests.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do these early behavioral disruptions predict lasting neurodevelopmental effects?
- ?Would different CBD doses produce different sex-specific patterns?
- ?How do these effects compare to prenatal THC exposure?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CBD-exposed females had impaired motor and discriminatory abilities
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-designed animal study using deep learning analysis for behavioral assessment, but mouse model limits human applicability.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- In utero exposure to cannabidiol disrupts select early-life behaviors in a sex-specific manner.
- Published In:
- Translational psychiatry, 12(1), 501 (2022)
- Authors:
- Iezzi, Daniela, Caceres-Rodriguez, Alba, Chavis, Pascale(2), Manzoni, Olivier J J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03923
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is CBD safe during pregnancy?
This mouse study found that prenatal CBD exposure caused sex-specific developmental disruptions, including impaired motor abilities in females and excess weight gain in males, challenging the assumption that CBD is universally safe.
Does prenatal CBD affect boys and girls differently?
In mice, prenatal CBD exposure affected males and females differently: males gained more weight and changed their vocalizations, while females showed reduced motor and discriminatory abilities.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03923APA
Iezzi, Daniela; Caceres-Rodriguez, Alba; Chavis, Pascale; Manzoni, Olivier J J. (2022). In utero exposure to cannabidiol disrupts select early-life behaviors in a sex-specific manner.. Translational psychiatry, 12(1), 501. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02271-8
MLA
Iezzi, Daniela, et al. "In utero exposure to cannabidiol disrupts select early-life behaviors in a sex-specific manner.." Translational psychiatry, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02271-8
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "In utero exposure to cannabidiol disrupts select early-life ..." RTHC-03923. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/iezzi-2022-in-utero-exposure-to
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.