Cocaine exposure during the brain growth spurt: Studies of neonatal survival, somatic growth, and brain development

摘要: Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rat pups were assigned to one of five groups. Three cocaine-treated groups injected SC with either 40, 60, or 80 mg/kg/day cocaine from postnatal day (PND) 4 through 9. Control equivalent volumes sterile dH2O (vehicle control) received no injections (normal PND This early period, corresponding the third trimester pregnancy in humans, is characterized as a period rapid development within central nervous system (CNS), generally termed brain growth spurt. The survival rate, somatic growth, and response various dosages administration assessed. There was dose-dependent relationship between rate. Furthermore, significantly reduced assessed terms body weight, found animals given mg/kg daily, compared controls. With respect significant differences obtained among doses control there evidence regional vulnerability (forebrain, cerebellum, brainstem) insult. Additionally, neither an effect gender, nor interactions gender treatment on development. Taken together, present results suggest that exhibits greater resistance insults than does growth. Several possible explanations regarding retardation are discussed.