Prenatal cocaine exposure in the laboratory mouse: effects on maternal water consumption and offspring outcome.
Pregnant mice were given 50 mg/kg cocaine HCl (1% solution, sc) once daily from gestation days 7 through 18 (sperm positive = day 0; term = day 19). Pair-fed and untreated control groups were also used. The pregnant cocaine-treated females showed normal weight gain and food consumption but had significantly increased water consumption. The cocaine-treated group had a significant increase in embryonic resorptions but no significant effects on stillbirths or postnatal mortality. The offspring of cocaine-treated females had significantly reduced birth weights and postnatal weight gains up to the age of 28 days. There was also a delay in their ear opening but not in other maturational milestones. Increased water consumption following cocaine treatment has been reported by other studies. We speculate that cocaine has a diuretic effect. We discuss the implications of this effect during pregnancy.
Church
M W
MW
Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.
Rauch
H C
HC
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005327:Fetal Resorption; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D003042:Cocaine