The endocannabinoid system in early gestation: news from pharmacology en Inflammatory mediators in normal and pathological pregnancies

SORDELLI MS; RIBEIRO ML

Inflamatory mediators involved in normal and pathological pregnancies

Research Signpost Eds

Año: 2009;

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:ES;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> For many years the process of implantation appears to scientists as an intricately event in which many different cellular types and molecules are involved. Although today we have a pretty better view of this complex process, there is much more work to be done. In this context, the endocannabinoid system appears as a new pathway that is involved in early gestation (embryo development and implantation) and that it is apparently implicated in the occurrence of recurrent abortion in women. This review summarizes a recognized signalling cascade and new research in mammalian implantation, based primarily on available genetic, molecular and pharmacological evidences from studies in mice and rats. Also, some clinical studies in humans are included. We wish to highlight the importance of these data in order to generate new pharmacological tools that help to alleviate infertility due to failures in the process of implantation.