Memory impairments and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of in-utero cocaine-exposed rats.
We examined whether significant oxidative stress is induced in the brain of juvenile rats exposed in utero to cocaine, and contributes to their mnesic difficulties. We measured nitric oxide generation, using electron paramagnetic resonance, and the thiobarbituric acid reactive species as specific indexes of lipid peroxidation. Both nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation were elevated in the hippocampus of in-utero cocaine-exposed rats as compared with control animals. In-utero cocaine-exposed rats developed significant learning impairments in the water-maze, shown by probe test retrieval deficits. In parallel, behavioural sessions resulted in increases of thiobarbituric acid reactive species levels only in control animals. Therefore, in-utero cocaine exposure resulted in a significant oxidative stress in basal conditions, which may be related to impaired learning ability.
Bashkatova
Valentina
V
Department of Neurochemical Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, 8 Baltiyskaya Street, 125315 Moscow, Russia.
Meunier
Johann
J
Maurice
Tangui
T
Vanin
Anatoly
A
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003042:Cocaine