title: Gestational cocaine and ethanol exposure alter spontaneous and cocaine-induced behavior in weanling rats.
abstract: The developmental and behavioral effects of prenatal exposure to cocaine and/or ethanol were examined in rats. Pregnant rats received ethanol (E; 2 g/kg, b.i.d.) orally, cocaine (C; 6 mg/kg/day, IV), or both (C/E) on gestational days 8-20. Controls consisted of pair-fed (PF) and untreated (UNT) groups. Offspring were weighed and examined for developmental markers beginning postnatal day one (PD1). On PD21 pups were individually observed in an open-field following either an injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg, IP), an injection of saline, or no treatment. Drug-treated and PF dams ate less food and gained less weight than the UNT dams. C and E litters had slightly increased mortality rates. Pups from both the C and E groups appeared less sensitive to the locomotor stimulant effect of cocaine. Pups from the E group engaged in significantly less spontaneous stereotypic locomotion than UNT and PF pups, while male pups from the C group exhibited a decrease in spontaneous exploratory behavior. Thus, prenatal exposure to C or E altered spontaneous and/or cocaine-induced behavior in weanling-aged rats, while the C/E combination did not augment either effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0613, USA.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kunko
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000633:toxicity*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol; D003042:Cocaine