Characterisation of the endocannabinoid system in rat haemochorial placenta

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Bruno M Fonseca (Author) FFUP; Georgina Correia da Silva (Author) FFUP; Anthony H Taylor (Author) Other; Patricia M W Lam (Author) Other; Timothy H Marczylo (Author) Other; Justin C Konje (Author) Other; Natercia A Teixeira (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Reproductive Toxicology

Vol. 34

Pages: 347-356

ISSN: 0890-6238

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 17 Citations

Scopus - 21 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-49M

DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2012.05.036

Abstract (EN): Trophoblast cells that comprise the placenta play a crucial role in the complex cross-talk between fetus and maternal tissues. Although anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, the best studied endocannabinoids, affect trophoblast attachment and outgrowth, the functional significance of the endocannabinoid system in the development of placenta has not been established. We investigated the correlation between endocannabinoid levels and the pattern of expression of the receptors and metabolic enzymes of the endocannabinoid system during rat placental development. Here, we showed that all the endocannabinoid machinery is dynamically expressed in the functionally distinct basal and labyrinth zones of the rat placenta. Indeed, endocannabinoid levels are shown to increase with the progression of pregnancy. Together, these data support a role for the endocannabinoid system in normal placental function and evidence for a potential novel cellular target for the deleterious action of cannabis-derived compounds during the second half of pregnancy.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10