Developmental effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on 5-HT1A receptors in male and female rat offspring.
Prenatal cocaine exposure results in behavioral abnormalities throughout development in rats, but little is known regarding the biological mechanisms underlying these abnormalities. Pregnant rats received subcutaneous twice-daily injections (1 ml/kg) of normal saline or 15 mg/kg of cocaine hydrochloride throughout gestation (gestation days 1-20). Following delivery, pups were placed with untreated surrogates. Male and female pups were killed on postnatal days 30, 60 or 120 for assessment of 5-HT(1A) receptor development in the forebrain, diencephalon, midbrain and pons using radiolabel immunocytochemistry. Findings revealed gender and age differences in developmental regulation of 5-HT(1A) receptors, indicating that male rats are more susceptible to long-term consequences of prenatal cocaine exposure in comparison to females. This study also demonstrates gender-specific development of serotonin (5-HT(1A)) receptors across postnatal ages, demonstrating a fundamentally different pattern of development of 5-HT(1A) receptors between males and females.
Johns
Josephine M
JM
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7096, USA. jjohns@med.unc.edu
Lubin
Deborah A
DA
Lieberman
Jeffrey A
JA
Lauder
Jean M
JM
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D003042:Cocaine