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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US DC: Wire: Marijuana Can Affect Fertility, Damaging Sperm, U.S. Study
ccguide Thursday 17 Dec 1998 Pubdate: Thursday, December 17, 1998 Source: Reuters Copyright: 1998 Reuters Limited. 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
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