Biomaterial Database

Behavioral effects of neonatal cocaine exposure using a rodent model. 1995

S Barron, and J Irvine

Psychology Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.

This study examined the effects of neonatal cocaine exposure on behavior using a rodent model. Rat pups were implanted with intragastric cannulas on postnatal day (PND) 4 and artificially reared (AR) from PND 4-10. The AR groups included two cocaine doses (20 mg/kg per day and 60 mg/kg per day) and an AR control. A sham surgery control group was also included that was reared naturally by its dam. Offspring from these neonatal treatment groups were examined for suckling performance (PND 13), passive avoidance learning (PND 23-24), activity (PND 18-21), or spontaneous alternation (PND 21). Neonatal cocaine exposure had no effect on suckling measures or passive avoidance learning. Activity was increased in the 60 mg/kg per day cocaine group relative to controls. In addition, spontaneous alternation was delayed in the 20 mg/kg per day cocaine-exposed females relative to all other groups. These data suggest that neonatal cocaine exposure may alter performance on some relatively simple tasks. More work is clearly warranted to look at the effects of neonatal cocaine exposure on more complex behaviors.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007441	Intubation, Gastrointestinal	The insertion of a tube into the stomach, intestines, or other portion of the gastrointestinal tract to allow for the passage of food products, etc.	Intubation, Nasogastric,Gastrointestinal Intubation,Gastrointestinal Intubations,Intubations, Gastrointestinal,Intubations, Nasogastric,Nasogastric Intubation,Nasogastric Intubations
D008297	Male		Males
D009043	Motor Activity	Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon.	Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D001835	Body Weight	The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms.	Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D003042	Cocaine	An alkaloid ester extracted from the leaves of plants including coca. It is a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and is clinically used for that purpose, particularly in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. It also has powerful central nervous system effects similar to the amphetamines and is a drug of abuse. Cocaine, like amphetamines, acts by multiple mechanisms on brain catecholaminergic neurons; the mechanism of its reinforcing effects is thought to involve inhibition of dopamine uptake.	Cocaine HCl,Cocaine Hydrochloride,HCl, Cocaine,Hydrochloride, Cocaine
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000831	Animals, Newborn	Refers to animals in the period of time just after birth.	Animals, Neonatal,Animal, Neonatal,Animal, Newborn,Neonatal Animal,Neonatal Animals,Newborn Animal,Newborn Animals
D001362	Avoidance Learning	A response to a cue that is instrumental in avoiding a noxious experience.	Aversion Behavior,Aversion Learning,Aversive Behavior,Aversive Learning,Avoidance Behavior,Aversion Behaviors,Aversive Behaviors,Avoidance Behaviors,Behavior, Aversion,Behavior, Aversive,Behavior, Avoidance,Behaviors, Aversion,Behaviors, Aversive,Behaviors, Avoidance,Learning, Aversion,Learning, Aversive,Learning, Avoidance
D001522	Behavior, Animal	The observable response an animal makes to any situation.	Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors