Symmetrical fetal growth retardation after gestational cocaine exposure in the rat

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology 2004-12, Vol.117 (2), p.148-153
• Main Authors: Campillo, F., Remezal, M., Vez, M.D., Navarro-Pando, J.M., Pérez-Flores, D., Parrilla, J.J., Abad, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - drug effects; Brain - embryology; Central Nervous System - drug effects; Central Nervous System - embryology; Central nervous system development; Central Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced; Central Nervous System Diseases - embryology; Central Nervous System Stimulants - adverse effects; Cocaine; Cocaine - adverse effects; Cocaine-Related Disorders - etiology; Female; Fetal Development - drug effects; Fetal Growth Retardation - chemically induced; Fetal Organ Maturity - drug effects; Gestation; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Medical sciences; Models, Animal; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Prenatal; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rat; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.03.004

Cocaine use during pregnancy results in an increase in different maternal and perinatal complications. The fetal effects of cocaine could be mainly related to the disturbances in the brain development, microcephaly being the most common brain abnormality. The aim of this study was to analyze maternal outcome and fetal somatic effects of cocaine and to evaluate the hypothesis that maternal cocaine exposure would specifically impair fetal global brain development. Fifty-four timed-pregnant female Sprague–Dawley rats were daily injected with 15 or 40 mg/kg per day from gestational day (GD) 1 or 8 and sacrificed at gestational day 20. By analyzing different maternal and fetal outcomes, it could be suggested that the cocaine exposure in pregnant rats decreased maternal weight gain without significant maternal mortality, did not affect the mean number of fetuses by litter, although notably increased stillbirths, reduced fetal birth weight, and reduced the fetal central nervous system weight. Present results are globally in agreement with the literature and underline a possible selective effect of cocaine on the fetal CNS resulting in symmetrical intrauterine fetal growth retardation in contrast to the asymmetrical retardation of undernutrition.