Dopaminergic mediation of long-term behavioral effects of in utero drug exposure.
The influence of external agents on the developing brain has led to the hypothesis that, during critical periods of rapid development, such agents may have long-lasting effects on brain function and behavior. The dopaminergic systems are particularly suitable for examining the hypothesis, since the neural tracts using dopamine have been widely studied; their influence on behavior is, to some extent, understood; the tracts begin development in mice and rats late in gestation; and there are a number of drugs known to have particular effects on these systems. Literature is reviewed that supports the hypothesis that drugs affecting dopamine metabolism, when administered during the early development of the dopaminergic tracts, produce persistent changes both in the metabolism of dopamine and in behavior mediated by neural systems which utilize dopamine as a transmitter.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000502:physiology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D001679:Biogenic Amines; D004298:Dopamine