Although adverse effects of cannabinoids on pregnancy have been indicated for many years, the mechanisms by which they exert their actions were not clearly understood. Only recently, molecular and biochemical approaches have led to the identification of two types of cannabinoid receptors, brain-type receptors (CB1-R) and spleen-type receptors (CB2-R), which mediate cannabinoid effects. These findings were followed by the discovery of endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). The natural cannabinoids and endocannabinoids exert their effects via cannabinoid receptors and share similar pharmacological and physiological properties. Recent demonstration of expression of functional CB1-R in the preimplantation embryo and synthesis of anandamide in the pregnant uterus of...
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