Scientific area
1.6 Biological sciences (Medical sciences go to scientific area 3.n; Agricultural sciences go to scientific area 4.n)
Discipline(s)
Reproductive biology (medical aspects go to scientific area 3.n)
Project title
Endocannabinoids as lipid mediators in reproduction
Scientific Coordinator's name:
Natércia Teixeira
Scientific Coordinator's e-mail:
natercia@ff.up.pt
Principal R&D Unit:
Biology of Inflammation and Reproduction
Other R&D Units involved in the project:
Other R&D units involved in the project
Project keyword(s)
endocannabinoids, pregnancy, anandamide
Short abstract and comments
Increasing evidence points towards the pathophysiological implication of endocannabinoids in both female and male fertility. In fact, endocannabinoids act as a major modulator in a variety of physiological functions as spermatogenesis, fertilization, embryo development, implantation and postimplantation embryo development. Furthermore, over the past few years, using the rat as an animal model and appropriate cell culture systems, we have investigated the role of endocannabinoids in the regulation of fetoplacental development. We point out that endocannabinoids regulation might be a novel and potentially important target . Thus, a better understanding in this area will help in the development of new strategies for clinical applications of the endocannabinoids –target drugs as next generation therapeutics in various infertility and pregnancy disorders.
Potential uses/indications
Cannabis consumption is among the main factors that affect negatively human fertility. Our experience in pregnancy studies may be helpful to predict how the emerging therapeutic agents based on the members of the endocannabinoid system may affect the activity of this endogenous system in reproductive tissues and consequently affect fertility and pregnancy out comes.
Status
Application submitted
Partner Status: Seeking Partners?
Yes
Grant number (QREN, FP7, Eureka, etc)
Grant number (QREN, FP7, Eureka, etc)
Last edited on
2013-02-07 11:49:03