Alcohol and endocannabinoids: neuroendocrine interactions in the reproductive axis

Abstract

Marihuana and alcohol consumption affect adversely reproduction by inhibiting the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. The endocannabinoid system, present in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues, participates in the regulation of hormones involved in the reproductive physiology such as luteinizing hormone, prolactin and oxytocin. This system is activated in response to pathophysiological conditions such as stress and inflammatory/infectious states as well as alcoholism and drug consumption acting as a negative modulator of reproductive function. The secretion of luteinizing hormone from the adenohypophysis is reduced, mainly through hypothalamic inhibitory action of cannabinoids and alcohol on luteinizing hormone releasing hormone release from its nervous terminals in the median eminence. This inhibitory effect is mediated, at least in part, by the activation of cannabinoid type 1 receptors. Cannabinoids also inhibit prolactin release from the lactotropes in the adenohypophysis acting locally and by increasing the release of hypothalamic dopamine mainly from tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons in the external layer of the median eminence. On the contrary, ethanol stimulates prolactin release from the adenohypophysis as well as oxytocin from the neurohypophysis. Besides, endocannabinoids modulate oxytocin synthesis and release from the hypothalamic magnocellular neurons and neurohypophysis. In summary, all the results exposed in the present review suggest that there is interplay between the endocannabinoid system, hormones and neuropeptides in the control of reproduction and that this system mediates, at least in part, ethanol adverse effects on reproductive function.