Regional distribution of cocaine in postmortem brain of chronic human cocaine users.
We measured concentrations of cocaine and its major metabolites (benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methylester, norcocaine, and cocaethylene) in 15 autopsied brain regions of 14 human chronic cocaine users. Only slight differences were observed in concentrations of cocaine and its metabolites amongst the examined brain areas. Although it is likely that some postmortem redistribution of the drug must have occurred, our data are consistent with the possibility that behaviorally relevant doses of cocaine are widely distributed throughout the brain of humans who use the drug on a chronic basis. Consideration should therefore be given to the possible pharmacological and toxicological actions of cocaine in both striatal and extra-striatal brain areas in human users of the drug.
Kalasinsky
K S
KS
Division of Forensic Toxicology, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, USA.
Bosy
T Z
TZ
Schmunk
G A
GA
Ang
L
L
Adams
V
V
Gore
S B
SB
Smialek
J
J
Furukawa
Y
Y
Guttman
M
M
Kish
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine