Project 462398

Our group has demonstrated that cannabinoid use during pregnancy reduces fetal growth and affects cardiac function after birth by using a rat model of cannabinoid exposure. Specifically, we have shown that both major components of cannabis, 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) negatively impact pregnancy outcomes and offspring cardiovascular health early in life, however, we do not know whether these results are sex-specific or whether cardiovascular health worsens in adulthood. The placenta and fetal heart are the first organs to differentiate in pregnancy and compromised placental development can influence the formation and function of the heart. Based on our preliminary data, we speculate that cannabinoid exposure during pregnancy compromises placenta development, leading to fetal growth restriction and heart dysfunction. Our exciting pilot data indicate that supplementing the maternal diet with Omega-3 fatty acids improves both THC-induced fetal growth restriction and early cardiovascular dysfunction, but further studies are needed to assess if this prevents long-term heart dysfunction. Two complementary approaches will assess the impact of cannabinoid exposure with and without Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation: 1) will evaluate the placenta and the developing heart to assess whether the improved fetal growth observed with Omega-3 supplementation improves placenta function after 9-THC and CBD exposure and 2) will evaluate postnatal cardiometabolic outcomes through adulthood. The proposed experiments will further explore the mechanism how prenatal Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation could improve placenta and cardiac outcomes. We will further assess whether supplementation only with Omega-3 fatty acids after birth is sufficient to reduce cardiovascular dysfunction. This proposal offers hope that a safe intervention could be employed to improve cardiac dysfunction in children, who without choice, were exposed to cannabinoids during pregnancy.