In a nonhuman primate model, chronic prenatal THC exposure had limited overall effects on fetal and infant muscle development but activated inflammation and cytokine signaling pathways that suggest potential for tissue damage and atrophy.
Prenatal researchers, developmental biologists, and clinicians counseling pregnant patients about cannabis use.
What the researchers found
RNA analysis of fetal and infant skeletal muscle using a 770-gene neuroinflammatory panel revealed that prenatal THC exposure had narrow overall effects on muscle development. The greatest impacts were in pathways related to inflammation and cytokine signaling, suggesting potential for tissue damage and atrophy. Histomorphological evaluation showed limited changes in muscle morphology and composition.
Why it matters
This is the first study to examine prenatal THC effects on musculoskeletal development in a highly translational primate model. While effects were narrow, the inflammation signals raise concerns about longer-term functional consequences as offspring mature.
The numbers in context
770 genes analyzed via Nanostring nCounter panel. Inflammation and cytokine signaling pathways most affected. Histomorphological changes limited. Pilot study establishes feasibility for follow-on research.
How the study worked
Pilot study using a nonhuman primate model with chronic prenatal THC exposure. RNA isolated from skeletal muscle analyzed for differential gene expression using Nanostring nCounter neuroinflammatory panel (770 genes). Histomorphological evaluation of muscle morphology also performed.
What this study cannot tell us
Pilot study with likely very small sample size (not specified in abstract). Nonhuman primate model is translational but not identical to human development. Gene panel focused on neuroinflammation, which may miss muscle-specific pathways. Short follow-up cannot capture long-term functional outcomes.
How to read the evidence
Highly translational primate model with molecular-level analysis, but pilot study likely has very small sample and cannot determine functional significance of gene changes.
When this study was published
2024 publication.
The bigger picture
Most prenatal cannabis research focuses on brain development. This study expands the scope to musculoskeletal effects, finding that while gross muscle development appears largely intact, molecular-level inflammation signals may have consequences that only become apparent later in development.
Questions still open
- Do the inflammatory gene changes observed translate to measurable functional deficits as offspring develop?
- Would longer follow-up reveal progressive muscle changes not apparent in the fetal/infant period?
Common questions
Does THC during pregnancy affect the baby's muscles?
Why use a primate model?
Read the original research
Effects of in utero delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure on fetal and infant musculoskeletal development in a preclinical nonhuman primate model.
PloS one, 19(7), e0306868
Citation
Moellmer, Samantha A; Hagen, Olivia L; Farhang, Parsa A; Duke, Victoria R; Fallon, Meghan E; Hinds, Monica T; McCarty, Owen J T; Lo, Jamie O; Nakayama, Karina H. (2024). Effects of in utero delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure on fetal and infant musculoskeletal development in a preclinical nonhuman primate model.. PloS one, 19(7), e0306868. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306868
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