With the increase in the number of infants born to cocaine-abusing women, there has been an increased interest in the possible adverse neurologic effects of prenatal cocaine exposure. Our initial research, well as the research of others, indicates that auditory and visual impairment are sequelae of prenatal cocaine exposure. We propose to study these sequelae using neurophysiological, neuroanatomical, and neurobehavioral techniques in laboratory rats. We will characterize the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure in terms of (a) strain differences, (b) critical periods of vulnerability, and (c) dose-dependency. Experiment 1 will determine the dose-responses and thresholds for cocaine-induced toxicity on pregnancy by administering a broad range of cocaine doses to different groups of animals. The pregnant dams will be monitored for weight gain, food/water consumption, and mortality. The dams will then be sacrificed before parturition and their uteri examined for fetal implants, resorptions, live and dead pups, and the pups' malformations and weights and gender. These results will guide dose selection for Experiment 2 which will evaluate the teratogenic effect of cocaine on auditory and visual function. Auditory (inner ear) dysfunction will be evaluated neurobehaviorally (audiogenic seizures), electrophysiologically (BAEPs), and neuroanatomically (cochlear histologies). Visual dysfunction will also be evaluated electrophysiologically (ERGs) and neuroanatomically (retinal histologies). Experiment 2 will evaluate these variables as functions of dose and critical periods of vulnerability. """"""""Pair-feeding"""""""", """"""""ad libfeeding"""""""" and """"""""surrogate-fostering"""""""" control procedures will be used. Establishing and characterizing hearing and visual impairment as sequelae of prenatal cocaine exposure will advance knowledge about how cocaine can damage the fetal CNS and guide clinical assessment and management.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01DA005536-04A2
Application #
3211925
Study Section
Drug Abuse Biomedical Research Review Committee (DABR)
Project Start
1987-09-30
Project End
1994-08-31
Budget Start
1991-09-30
Budget End
1992-08-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Wayne State University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Church, Michael W; Holmes, Pamela A; Tilak, Jacqueline P et al. (2004) Prenatal cocaine exposure influences the growth and life span of laboratory rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 26:429-41
Church, Michael W; Blakley, Brian W; Burgio, Don L et al. (2004) WR-2721 (Amifostine) ameliorates cisplatin-induced hearing loss but causes neurotoxicity in hamsters: dose-dependent effects. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 5:227-37
Church, M W; Crossland, W J; Holmes, P A et al. (1998) Effects of prenatal cocaine on hearing, vision, growth, and behavior. Ann N Y Acad Sci 846:12-28
Church, M W; Abel, E L (1998) Fetal alcohol syndrome. Hearing, speech, language, and vestibular disorders. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 25:85-97
Church, M W; Kaltenbach, J A (1997) Hearing, speech, language, and vestibular disorders in the fetal alcohol syndrome: a literature review. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 21:495-512
Church, M W; Eldis, F; Blakley, B W et al. (1997) Hearing, language, speech, vestibular, and dentofacial disorders in fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 21:227-37
Church, M W; Subramanian, M G (1997) Cocaine's lethality increases during late gestation in the rat: a study of ""critical periods"" of exposure. Am J Obstet Gynecol 176:901-6
Kaltenbach, J A; Church, M W; Blakley, B W et al. (1997) Comparison of five agents in protecting the cochlea against the ototoxic effects of cisplatin in the hamster. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 117:493-500
Church, M W; Kaltenbach, J A; Blakley, B W et al. (1995) The comparative effects of sodium thiosulfate, diethyldithiocarbamate, fosfomycin and WR-2721 on ameliorating cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Hear Res 86:195-203
Bilitzke, P J; Church, M W (1992) Prenatal cocaine and alcohol exposures affect rat behavior in a stress test (the Porsolt swim test). Neurotoxicol Teratol 14:359-64

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