Registered: Sep 2000
Location: The Bottom of the Toyem Pole
Posts: 9453

Pot smoke kills your swimmers

It gets technical, so I'll sum it up by saying that guys who smoke a lot of pot may be overloading certain receptors that render their sperm impotent. Tokers beware.

-----------------

Cannabinoid-signaling system regulates human sperm

FOR RELEASE: 12 DECEMBER 2000 AT 00:01 ET US
University at Buffalo http://www.buffalo.edu/

An internal cannabinoid-signaling system regulates human sperm, fertilization
potential, study finds

SAN FRANCISCO -- A cellular signaling system that responds to THC, the active
substance in marijuana, as well as to anandamide, a cannabinoid-like molecule
normally produced in the body, may regulate sperm functions required for
fertilization in humans, a study headed by scientists from the University at
Buffalo has found.

In addition, the findings suggest that men and women who abuse marijuana could
jeopardize fertility by overloading this natural cannabinoid signaling system
that regulates sperm structure, vigor and fertility.

Herbert Schuel, Ph.D., UB professor of anatomy and cell biology and lead author
on the study, presented results of the research here today (Dec. 12, 2000) at
the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology.

Collaborating on the research were Lani Burkman, Ph.D., and Jack Lippes, M.D.,
of UB, and colleagues from the University of Connecticut, Eastern Virginia
Medical School and University of California at Irvine.

The study presents the first evidence that anandamide exists in human seminal
plasma, mid-cycle oviductal fluid and follicular fluid, and can regulate
directly the human sperm's ability to fertilize an egg.

"These findings suggest that defects in the cannabinoid receptor-signaling
system could account for certain types of infertility," Schuel said. "A better
understanding of these mechanisms might lead to the development of novel drugs
useful in reproductive medicine. For heavy marijuana users, the study results
raise the possibility they are jeopardizing fertility by overloading this
signaling system."

A receptor for cannabinoids was found in the human brain in the late 1980s.
This finding suggested that the body must produce its own chemical version of
THC to activate these receptors, and a substance called anandamide was found to
be that chemical. Schuel and collaborators were the first to report cannabinoid
receptors in sperm, using sea urchins as a model, and that anandamide also
activated those receptors.

The regulatory mechanisms that prepare sperm to fertilize eggs within human
reproductive tracts remain, for the most part, a scientific mystery. Human
sperm are bathed in male reproductive-tract secretions when they are ejaculated
into the female's vagina, and are not immediately capable of fertilizing eggs.
However, once removed from the seminal plasma and exposed for several hours to
secretions within the female reproductive tract, sperm become "capacitated" and
can fertilize eggs.

Capacitated sperm exhibit a characteristic pattern of vigorous swimming called
hyperactivated motility. When they bind to a specific protein in the egg's
surface coat, sperm can be stimulated to secrete digestive enzymes that enable
them to penetrate the egg coat during fertilization, a secretory process called
the acrosome reaction.

"We know that sperm capacitation and fertilizing potential are tightly
regulated within the female reproductive tract," Schuel said. "We also know
that the cannabinoid receptor found in the human brain is expressed in the
human testis, and that anandamide is produced in the testis and uterus of
mammals. Within the uterus, anandamide regulates early development of the
fertilized egg, and determines where the embryo will implant to initiate
pregnancy. Cannabinoids also affect this process," he noted.

Now, Schuel and collaborators have the first evidence that anandamide can
directly regulate human sperm's ability to fertilize an egg. Using a synthetic
equivalent of natural anandamide called AM-356 and THC, the substance
responsible for the "high" produced by marijuana smoke, the researchers showed
that both chemicals regulate in vitro capacitation and fertilizing potential of
human sperm in three ways:

-- AM-356 produces opposite effects on hyperactivated sperm swimming, depending
on the amount. Too much (a concentration of 2.5 nano Moles) inhibits
hyperactivated motility, while at a 10-fold lower concentration, it stimulates
hyperactivated swimming. Because anandamide is present in human-reproductive
fluids and human sperm contain cannabinoid receptors, it is possible that
localized differences in anandamide concentration may regulate sperm swimming
patterns within the female-reproductive tract.

-- Both AM-356 and THC inhibit structural changes over the acrosome. The
structural integrity of the acrosome during capacitation is known to be a
critical factor in sperm's ability to fertilize eggs.

-- AM-356 significantly inhibits sperm binding to the zona, or egg coat. This
observation provides the first evidence that anandamide (which AM-356 mimics)
can regulate directly sperm fertilizing potential in humans.

"Defects in endocannabinoid signaling may be responsible for certain currently
unexplained types of infertility," Schuel said. "Conversely, endocannabinoid
signaling in human-reproductive tracts may provide potential targets for the
future development of new drugs for use in reproductive medicine.

"In addition, the increased load of cannabinoids in people who abuse marijuana
could flood natural endocannabinoid-signal systems in reproductive organs and
adversely impact fertility," he said. "This possibility may explain
observations made over the past 30-40 years that marijuana smoke drastically
reduces sperm production in males."

------------------
nutriment noun: 1. nourishing food. 2. an intellectual or artistic etc. nourishment or stimulus.

-ia as in dement-ia or minut-ia or milit-ia or M-IA or C-IA or........

All Hail Eris! All Hail Discord-ia!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: NC/USA
Posts: 558

*starts smoking a very large joint*

DAMN!!!!
If I'd have known that I would have never QUIT!!!!

------------------------
A true Idiot Savant...
...without all that "Savant" bullshit.
You can get up with me at my forum.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3539

yay!!!no more condoms!!!!
Just kidding. Splat is straight edge. Im going to work on killing all my sperm though.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: GA
Posts: 6953

that shit didnt work for my husband, he smoked like a fiend, and so did i when i was younger. we got pregnant the first time having sex without using protection.
personally i wish that crack made you infertile. i think THAT would be cool

------------------------
sweet surrender

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: 54.60°N 5.70°W
Posts: 1950

Um. There are just a few 70's kids out there, like me, born of parents who breathed pot like we breathe carbon monoxide, who would take this wonderful piece of "my god, did you ever want a really technical explanation for the fecking obvious" research with a pinch of salt.

The only side-effect, it seems, is that your kids will have some weird penchant for horrible run-on sentences and a prediliction for chocolate-covered raisins.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: GA
Posts: 6953

when i went to the baby dr the first time, i told her i was a hard core pot smoker, she laughed and said if i stopped smoking for the rest of my pregnancy that there wouldnt be side effects. i had nine pound babies, and they are both very smart.

------------------------
sweet surrender

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3539

quote:

---

Originally posted by Princess_Chelle:
when i went to the baby dr the first time, i told her i was a hard core pot smoker, she laughed and said if i stopped smoking for the rest of my pregnancy that there wouldnt be side effects. i had nine pound babies, and they are both very smart.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: The Bottom of the Toyem Pole
Posts: 9453

yeah, I think this research is interesting and all, but i know enough basic biology to know that there are a lot of factors that make a difference. I am always amazed at how scientific publications oversimplify multivariable situations and confuse correlation with causation.

But I wonder if blowing a bong load of smoke up her twat after shooting your load would be like a morning after pill, only it isn't a pill and happens right after sex?

------------------------
nutriment noun: 1. nourishing food. 2. an intellectual or artistic etc. nourishment or stimulus.

-ia as in dement-ia or minut-ia or milit-ia or M-IA or C-IA or........

All Hail Eris! All Hail Discord-ia!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: GA
Posts: 6953

i never smoked pot after i knew i was pregnant. i just couldnt do it. just in case.
im too nutty about my kids to force them to smoke pot while in utero. that would be mean i think. forcing anyone to do something isnt cool.

------------------------
sweet surrender

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: 54.60°N 5.70°W
Posts: 1950

Women who drink & 'do drugs' &c. during pregnancy are retarded.

I'm just making my position on that one clear.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: GA
Posts: 6953

i agree pan, i do see it as forcing someone to get fucked up with you. and someone underage as well. not to mention someone that is a part of you. i dont understand how women do it...but lots of them do.

------------------------
sweet surrender

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 5131

This thread makes me laugh.

------------------------
Sanity is the playground for the unimaginative.
----
Send me thine daughters and wives willingly and by first class mail, for I hate waiting 4 to 6 weeks! - Straightman

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3539

I’ve known women who smoked pot during their pregnancy. Their kids came out all right. The only notable thing is that they were mellow children. They were normal though. I’ve also known women who drank wine while they were prego's and their kid wasn’t retarded. One had behavioral problems, but I think that was mommies fault.
I do think that while pregnant you shouldn’t be so selfish as to put your child at risk no matter how minute though people like the American Indians and Italians, just to name a few, either smoked pot or drank wine normally during pregnancy. Some Russians, I believe, drink vodka due to poor drinking water quality.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: 54.60°N 5.70°W
Posts: 1950

Um.

Yes. I know some people who get into their cars when they are paralytic with drink, and you know what? Some of them make it home without killing either themselves or anyone else.

But that's retarded too.

Or perhaps, like how in some parts of Russia it's safer to drink vodka than the local water (can we say 'urban legend'?), it's actually safer for these people to be in their cars than walking the streets. Yes, I'm sure that must be it.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 5131

Let me clarify my point.
I do not condone drug or alcohol use during pregnancy, in fact I abhor it.

However, I know WAY to many people who found out the hard way that they were actually NOT sterile from smoking too much. They read all these reports too. They are also stupid.

This thread still makes me laugh.

That is all.

------------------------
Sanity is the playground for the unimaginative.
----
Send me thine daughters and wives willingly and by first class mail, for I hate waiting 4 to 6 weeks! - Straightman

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3539

"(can we say 'urban legend'?)"

I read on this in a few places including TIME magazine.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 5131

quote:

---

Originally posted by HELL:
I read on this in a few places including TIME magazine.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 2104

Yay!! Survival of the fittest. My sperm will take over the earth!! Woo Hoo!!

Now, can someone female please come over to help me build up my troops?

CAL

------------------------
"The desert is my church, and hunting is my god."

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 3539

quote:

---

Originally posted by CAL:
Yay!! Survival of the fittest. My sperm will take over the earth!! Woo Hoo!!

Now, can someone female please come over to help me build up my troops?

CAL

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Shreveport, LA
Posts: 2936

Let me get this straight: smoke pot and you can't get a woman preggo? YEAH!!!!! Twofers!!!!

/me smokes a fatty while screaming Die Die Die to his tadpoles.

------------------------
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." -Robert Heinlein

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 7113

An idiot friend of mine smoked during her whole pregnacy (both of them). She didn't want it to be a difficult birth, the children were very small. A bit less than 6 pounds if I am not mistaken. Disgusts me.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Princess_Chelle:
when i went to the baby dr the first time, i told her i was a hard core pot smoker, she laughed and said if i stopped smoking for the rest of my pregnancy that there wouldnt be side effects. i had nine pound babies, and they are both very smart.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Bangor, ME
Posts: 10153

yeah i know this one stupid bitch that drank, smoked pot, AND did acid while tripping
i don't really know the side effects towards the baby, cause the dumb bitch died of a heroin overdose.

------------------------
ManHo Inc.©®

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Dumbfucksville!
Posts: 12164

quote:

---

Originally posted by AlcoholSoopaFiend:
yeah i know this one stupid bitch that drank, smoked pot, AND did acid while tripping
i don't really know the side effects towards the baby, cause the dumb bitch died of a heroin overdose.

---

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: NC/USA
Posts: 558

My favorite was this chick I knew who would get pissed even if you were OUTSIDE and smoked a cigarette anywhere near her. I understand the risk of low birth weight associated with smoke/pregnancy... but this same dumb bitch would drink, smoke pot, and eat mescaline.

Some people are dumb as shit.

------------------------
A true Idiot Savant...
...without all that "Savant" bullshit.
You can get up with me at my forum.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged