Prenatal cocaine exposure alters alpha2 receptor expression in adolescent rats.
BACKGROUND
Prenatal cocaine exposure produces attentional deficits which to persist through early childhood. Given the role of norepinephrine (NE) in attentional processes, we examined the forebrain NE systems from prenatal cocaine exposed rats. Cocaine was administered during pregnancy via the clinically relevant intravenous route of administration. Specifically, we measured alpha2-adrenergic receptor (alpha2-AR) density in adolescent (35-days-old) rats, using [3H]RX821002 (5 nM).


RESULTS
Sex-specific alterations of alpha2-AR were found in the hippocampus and amygdala of the cocaine-exposed animals, as well as an upregulation of alpha2-AR in parietal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that prenatal cocaine exposure results in a persistent alteration in forebrain NE systems as indicated by alterations in receptor density. These neurochemical changes may underlie behavioral abnormalities observed in offspring attentional processes following prenatal exposure to cocaine.
Booze
Rosemarie M
RM
Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208, USA. booze@sc.edu
Wallace
David R
DR
Silvers
Janelle M
JM
Strupp
Barbara J
BJ
Snow
Diane M
DM
Mactutus
Charles F
CF
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001835:Body Weight; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D019329:Idazoxan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014316:Tritium
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D014316:Tritium; C058525:2-methoxyidazoxan; D003042:Cocaine; D019329:Idazoxan