title: Cocaine alters behavior in the rat fetus.
abstract: Changes in motor behavior and sensory responsiveness were characterized in rat fetuses on gestational Day 21 after acute administration of various doses of cocaine. An increase in fetal motor activity was evident in the 3 highest doses (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg). Cocaine-exposed Ss showed reduced facial wiping in behavioral bioassays of cutaneous sensitivity (10 and 20 mg/kg) and chemosensory responsiveness (20 mg/kg). Changes in other behavioral measures indicated that fetuses detected and responded to these stimuli, suggesting that reduced facial wiping was due to a disruption of sensorimotor integration or motor coordination. Study of the fetus in vivo can provide insights into the mechanisms of cocaine's deleterious effects on central nervous system and behavioral development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, New York 13902-6000.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Simonik
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Smotherman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006120:Grooming / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D014110:Touch / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine