Effect of prenatal cocaine on the acquisition of cocaine-induced taste aversions.
Pregnant Long-Evans rats were injected SC twice daily with 20 mg/kg cocaine from gestational days (GD) 7-19. Vehicle controls were administered distilled water on these days. Pair-fed controls were similarly treated but allowed the same amount of food as consumed by the cocaine-exposed mothers. On postnatal day 1 (PND 1), pups of the mothers exposed to cocaine were surrogate-fostered. On PND 41, all subjects were grouped according to their history (cocaine, vehicle, and pair-fed) and were tested for their behavioral sensitivity to the aversive effects of cocaine by assessing their ability to acquire a cocaine-induced taste aversion. Rats from all three conditions were given saccharin to drink and then injected SC with either 0, 18, 32, or 50 mg/kg cocaine. Prenatal exposure to cocaine had no effect on the acquisition of aversions. Specifically, the prenatally exposed animals acquired the taste aversion in a dose-dependent manner similar to that of the controls. These data indicate that changes in sensitivity to cocaine are not necessary consequences of prenatal cocaine exposure.
Ferrari
C M
CM
Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016.
Riley
A L
AL
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D012439:Saccharin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D012439:Saccharin; D003042:Cocaine