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Effect of Cannabis Consumption on Sperm Nuclear Quality in Infertile Men

Effect of Cannabis Consumption on Sperm Nuclear Quality in Infertile Men : a Prospective Exposed / Unexposed Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02932527
Acronym
CANNASPERM
Enrollment
71
Registered
2016-10-13
Start date
2017-08-29
Completion date
2021-05-07
Last updated
2026-02-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Teratozoospermia

Keywords

cannabis

Brief summary

Lifestyle and environmental factors can disrupt development and testicular function. In France, cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance and about 8% of adults between 18 and 64 years smoke cannabis at least once a year, and mostly men under 45 years. Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators that share some effects with the active ingredients of cannabis. Cannabis and endocannabinoids act via two types of endogenous receptors which were detected at different levels of the reproductive system and are involved in the central and local regulation of the gonad. Cannabis use may alter the normal regulation of the endocannabinoid system. In males, the regulation of the endocannabinoid system is critical for Sertoli and Leydig cells functions, germ cell differentiation, maturation of sperm nucleus and sperm quality. The cannabis can have a negative impact on sperm parameters, capacitation and acrosome reaction. Cannabinoids may decrease testosterone synthesis and induce apoptosis of Sertoli cells. Studies on the effect of cannabinoids on male fertility are scarce or nonexistent in infertile men because of ethical considerations and bias due to consumption often underreported. Investigators hypothesized that cannabis use may alter sperm nuclear quality. Investigators want to explore this hypothesis conducting a multicentric prospective study exposed/non-exposed in infertile men who are consulting for Medically Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). To reach this study, it is planned to include a total of 200 subjects taking into account any exclusions.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALQuestionnaire about cannabis consumption

Questionnaire about cannabis consumption will be assessed to infertile male exposed to cannabis and infertile male not exposed to cannabis.

PROCEDUREblood intake

blood intake is done for infertile male exposed and infertile male not exposed.

PROCEDURESemen samples collection

Semen samples are collected for infertile male exposed and infertile male not exposed.

Sponsors

University Hospital, Rouen
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male Patient, * Patient age ≥ 18 years, * Infertile patient with isolated teratozoospermia or associated with asthenozoospermia and / or oligozoospermia and / or necrozoospermia, defined according to WHO recommendations (WHO guidelines, 2010) and the David amended classification (Auger et al, 2001) for teratozoospermia * Patient with normal constitutional karyotype (46, XY). * Smoking tobacco, * Drinking ≤ 20 g (2 units) / day, * Patient exposed : Cannabis user for over 3 months and consuming at least weekly (≥ 1 / week) \[questionnaire and positive blood detection of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or its derivatives (11-hydroxy-THC and 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC)\]. * Unexposed : No cannabis user (questionnaire and negative blood detection of Delta-9-THC and its derivatives) matched for age (+/- 2.5 years) with exposed patients included,

Exclusion criteria

* Patient age \> 60 years * Patient with azoospermia * Patient previously exposed to gonadotoxic treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, androgen therapy and other gonadotoxic treatments), * Patient with professional toxic exposure, * Patient consuming other recreational drugs, * Patient with severely impaired sperm parameters and sperm counts \<1 million,

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Evaluation of spermatic aneuploidy rateDay 1Spermatic aneuploidy rate is evaluated for patients exposed and not exposed to cannabis

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Evaluation of consumption levelDay 1Consumption level are evaluated for patients exposed to cannabis, using questionnaire
Evaluation of cannabinoids level in bloodDay 1cannabinoids levels in blood are evaluated for patients exposed and not exposed to cannabis
Total sperm countDay 1
Percentage of mobile spermatozoaDay 1
Percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoaDay 1
Mean vacuole area thresholdDay 1Mean vacuole area threshold is measured with Receiver Operating Characteristic curves
Correlation coefficient between vacuole areas and sperm DNA fragmentationDay 1Correlation coefficient between vacuole areas and sperm DNA fragmentation are evaluated by TUNEL analysis
Correlation coefficient between vacuole areas and abnormal chromatin condensationDay 1Correlation coefficient between vacuole areas and abnormal chromatin condensation is evaluated by aniline blue staining
Correlation coefficient between vacuole areas and telomere number, distribution and lengthDay 1Correlation coefficient between vacuole areas and telomere number, distribution and length is evaluated by quantitative FISH

Countries

France

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORFrance VERHAEGHE, MD

University Hospital, Rouen

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 7, 2026