Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/O9AFSVfPvnM   Cannabis use mutates a gene in sperm that is associated with autism.  Duke University investigators compared the sperm of weed users with those of non-users.   The cannabis users’ sperm showed widespread DNA methylation changes including reduced methylation of the DLGAP2 gene.  Modifications of this gene are associated with a number of neurological and psychiatric problems including autism spectrum disorder.   Men and women considering becoming parents should abstain from cannabis use as early as possible, since studies do show that marijuana affects stem cells in the testis.  That being the case, it is likely that all sperm produced from these affected testicular cells will be flawed.   Rose Schrott, Kelly Acharya, Nilda Itchon-Ramos, Andrew B. Hawkey, Erica Pippen, John T. Mitchell, Scott H. Kollins, Edward D. Levin, Susan K. Murphy. Cannabis use is associated with potentially heritable widespread changes in autism candidate gene DLGAP2 DNA methylation in sperm. Epig