Mechanisms of action of drugs of abuse on the developing fetal brain

摘要: The consequences of public health the acquisition and use drugs abuse have been well demonstrated. Despite intense effort, however, progress has slow in recent years ascertaining specific neurodevelopmental effects these on children drug-abusing mothers. animal models allows investigator to determine biological contributions prenatal exposure outcome while controlling for covariates that confounded clinical studies, such as altered nutrition pregnancy, suboptimal rearing environment young, availability drug nondrug stimulation offspring. This article selectively reviews preclinical literature gestational with particular emphasis cocaine, ethanol, opiate narcotics. Mechanisms action mature developing brain are summarized. A model developmental impact regions underlying drug-induced reward reinforcement its potential postnatal importance is presented.