Maternal dietary DHA and EPA supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in THC-exposed rat offspring
Abstract Cannabis use in pregnancy is associated with low birthweight outcomes. Recent preclinical data suggests that maternal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure leads to decreases in birthweight followed by early cardiac deficits in offspring. Currently, no studies have explored an intervention...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92844-6 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850040449987772416 |
|---|---|
| author | Kendrick Lee Mohammed H. Sarikahya Samantha L. Cousineau Ken K.-C. Yeung Amica Lucas Kara Loudon Thane Tomy Gregg T. Tomy David R. C. Natale Steven R. Laviolette Daniel B. Hardy |
| author_facet | Kendrick Lee Mohammed H. Sarikahya Samantha L. Cousineau Ken K.-C. Yeung Amica Lucas Kara Loudon Thane Tomy Gregg T. Tomy David R. C. Natale Steven R. Laviolette Daniel B. Hardy |
| author_sort | Kendrick Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cannabis use in pregnancy is associated with low birthweight outcomes. Recent preclinical data suggests that maternal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure leads to decreases in birthweight followed by early cardiac deficits in offspring. Currently, no studies have explored an intervention for these maternal THC-induced deficits. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to exhibit cardioprotective effects. In this present study, we demonstrated that maternal dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids ameliorates both THC-induced fetal growth and postnatal cardiac deficits in offspring. Our data indicates this may be underpinned by alterations in cardiac and hepatic fatty acids and reduction in markers of cardiac collagen deposition. Interestingly, the cardioprotective effects of omega-3s may be further underscored by decreased signaling of the cardiac endocannabinoid system. With increasing rates of cannabis use in pregnancy and recent evidence of subsequent cardiometabolic aberrations in offspring, our data suggests a potential intervention for THC-induced fetal growth and cardiac disturbances in offspring. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b6a9bd9454734bf6b32b723e2da98ec0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6a9bd9454734bf6b32b723e2da98ec02025-08-20T02:56:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-92844-6Maternal dietary DHA and EPA supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in THC-exposed rat offspringKendrick Lee0Mohammed H. Sarikahya1Samantha L. Cousineau2Ken K.-C. Yeung3Amica Lucas4Kara Loudon5Thane Tomy6Gregg T. Tomy7David R. C. Natale8Steven R. Laviolette9Daniel B. Hardy10Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western UniversityDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and DentistryWestern UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Western UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Western UniversityUniversity of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaUniversity of ManitobaQueen’s UniversityDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and DentistryWestern UniversityDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western UniversityAbstract Cannabis use in pregnancy is associated with low birthweight outcomes. Recent preclinical data suggests that maternal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exposure leads to decreases in birthweight followed by early cardiac deficits in offspring. Currently, no studies have explored an intervention for these maternal THC-induced deficits. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to exhibit cardioprotective effects. In this present study, we demonstrated that maternal dietary supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids ameliorates both THC-induced fetal growth and postnatal cardiac deficits in offspring. Our data indicates this may be underpinned by alterations in cardiac and hepatic fatty acids and reduction in markers of cardiac collagen deposition. Interestingly, the cardioprotective effects of omega-3s may be further underscored by decreased signaling of the cardiac endocannabinoid system. With increasing rates of cannabis use in pregnancy and recent evidence of subsequent cardiometabolic aberrations in offspring, our data suggests a potential intervention for THC-induced fetal growth and cardiac disturbances in offspring.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92844-6CannabisMaternalOmega-3 fatty acidsCardiacΔ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)Endocannabinoid system |
| spellingShingle | Kendrick Lee Mohammed H. Sarikahya Samantha L. Cousineau Ken K.-C. Yeung Amica Lucas Kara Loudon Thane Tomy Gregg T. Tomy David R. C. Natale Steven R. Laviolette Daniel B. Hardy Maternal dietary DHA and EPA supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in THC-exposed rat offspring Scientific Reports Cannabis Maternal Omega-3 fatty acids Cardiac Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Endocannabinoid system |
| title | Maternal dietary DHA and EPA supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in THC-exposed rat offspring |
| title_full | Maternal dietary DHA and EPA supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in THC-exposed rat offspring |
| title_fullStr | Maternal dietary DHA and EPA supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in THC-exposed rat offspring |
| title_full_unstemmed | Maternal dietary DHA and EPA supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in THC-exposed rat offspring |
| title_short | Maternal dietary DHA and EPA supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in THC-exposed rat offspring |
| title_sort | maternal dietary dha and epa supplementation ameliorates adverse cardiac outcomes in thc exposed rat offspring |
| topic | Cannabis Maternal Omega-3 fatty acids Cardiac Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Endocannabinoid system |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92844-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kendricklee maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT mohammedhsarikahya maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT samanthalcousineau maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT kenkcyeung maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT amicalucas maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT karaloudon maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT thanetomy maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT greggttomy maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT davidrcnatale maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT stevenrlaviolette maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring AT danielbhardy maternaldietarydhaandepasupplementationamelioratesadversecardiacoutcomesinthcexposedratoffspring |