title: Cocaine induces DNA damage in distinct brain areas of female rats under different hormonal conditions.
abstract: We evaluated levels of neuronal DNA damage after acute or repeated cocaine treatment in different brain areas of female rats after ovariectomy or sham surgery. Rats in the control and acute groups were given saline i.p., whereas in the repeated group were given 15 mg/kg, i.p., cocaine for 8 days. After a 10 day washout period, the control group was given saline i.p., whereas rats in the acute and repeated groups were given a challenge dose of 15 mg/kg, i.p., cocaine. After behavioural assessment, rats were killed and the cerebellum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex and striatum were dissected for the Comet assay. Acute cocaine exposure induced DNA damage in all brain areas. This effect persisted after repeated administration, except in the hypothalamus, where repeated treatment did not cause increased DNA damage. Sexual hormones exhibited a neuroprotective effect, decreasing cocaine-induced DNA damage in cycling rats in all brain areas.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilise F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Tierre A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gonçales
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: Dinara J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saffi
authors.forename: Rosane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Helena M T
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D004967:Estrogens; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: DNA damage; cocaine; oestrogen; ovariectomy; progesterone