Sex mediates dopamine and adrenergic receptor expression in adult rats exposed prenatally to cocaine.
The extent of catecholaminergic receptor and respective behavioral alterations associated with prenatal cocaine exposure varies according to exogenous factors such as the amount, frequency, and route of maternal exposure, as well as endogenous factors such as specific brain regions under consideration and sex of the species. The goal of the current study was to use autoradiography to delineate possible moderators of dopaminergic and adrenergic receptor expression in adult rat offspring exposed to cocaine in utero. The current study demonstrated sex-dependent D1 receptor, alpha2, and noradrenergic transporter binding alterations in prelimbic, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate regions of adult rat brains exposed to cocaine during gestational days 8-21. Of further interest was the lack of alterations in the nucleus accumbens for nearly all receptors/transporters investigated, as well as the lack of alterations in D3 receptor binding in nearly all of the regions investigated (nucleus accumbens, prelimbic region, hippocampus, and cingulate gyrus). Thus, the current investigation demonstrated persistent receptor and transporter alterations that extend well into adulthood as a result of cocaine exposure in utero. Furthermore, the demonstration that sex played a mediating role in prenatal cocaine-induced, aberrant receptor/transporter expression is of primary importance for future studies that seek to control for sex in either design or analysis.
Ferris
Mark J
MJ
Program in Behavioral Neuroscience, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States. ferrismj@gwm.sc.edu
Mactutus
Charles F
CF
Silvers
Janelle M
JM
Hasselrot
Ulla
U
Beaudin
Stephane A
SA
Strupp
Barbara J
BJ
Booze
Rosemarie M
RM
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001552:Benzazepines; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000187:drug effects; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000187:drug effects; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D001552:Benzazepines; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D005473:Fluoxetine; C011386:nisoxetine; D003042:Cocaine; D003000:Clonidine; C031349:7-hydroxy-2-N,N-dipropylaminotetralin