MARIJUANA CAN AFFECT FERTILITY, DAMAGING SPERM, U.S. STUDY SAYS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Scientists say they have shown how active
ingredients in marijuana can affect fertility by damaging sperm function.

Natural body compounds known as anandamides, similar to compounds found in
marijuana, may be important for helping sperm get to and fertilize an egg,
Herbert Schuel and colleagues at the University of Buffalo in New York said
yesterday. And cannabinoids in marijuana are similar enough to anandamides
to confuse the body.

Human sperm contain receptors, a kind of chemical doorway, that the active
ingredients in cannabis can use.

"We've known for 30 years that very heavy marijuana smoking has a drastic
effect on sperm production within the testis, which can lead to higher rates
of infertility," Schuel said. "Our new findings suggest that anandamides and
THC in marijuana smoke may also affect sperm functions required for
fertilization in the female reproductive tract."

It was known for years the cannabinoids in marijuana are similar enough to
anandamides to use the same chemical doorways into brain cells. Schuel's
group found sperm also carry receptors for anandamides, and cannabinoids
will attach themselves to these receptors, given a chance.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst