BRAIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION AFTER COCAINE EXPOSURE

这是一个计划项目的建议，将采用动物模型 研究胎儿接触可卡因的后果， 观察到的缺陷产生的机制。 最近的临床 报告指出，使用可卡因的妇女所生的孩子不仅表现出 在新生儿时出现了一些异常， 行为异常 这些临床症状 在这些儿童中观察到的结果表明， 处理刺激、认知能力、情绪和运动 活动 目前对大脑功能的了解表明，足够的。 这种行为的表达需要大脑皮层、边缘系统和 锥体外系结构 可卡因的药理学表明， 可能会对这些发展产生直接和间接的影响， 通过对单胺和阿片肽的作用来影响大脑区域。 的 行为异常可能是由于可测量的 这些大脑区域的结构和功能的改变， 在五个互动项目中进行审查，这些项目将涵盖各种发展 从妊娠中期到成年期。 每个项目将测试特定的 预测可卡因引起的异常发生的假设， 通过行为、生理、解剖、药理 神经化学和分子分析。 将建立一个核心设施 确保一致的住房计划，繁殖， 可卡因或溶媒，测量血浆和脑 母体和胎仔中可卡因含量， 新生儿，新生儿交叉寄养，适当时配对喂养， 一些发育标志的神经和行为评估， 不同年龄的动物供应充足。 接触可卡因， 从而建立一种动物模型，用于开发 治疗和预防儿童的这种异常。

This is a proposal for a program project that would employ an animal model to investigate the consequences of fetal exposure to cocaine and the mechanisms by which observed deficits are produced. Recent clinical reports indicate that children born to cocaine-using women not only display a number of abnormalities as neonates but also demonstrate a number of behavioral abnormalities years later. The clinical symptoms that have been observed in such children suggest long-term disruption in the sensory processing of stimuli, cognitive abilities, emotionality and motor activity. Current knowledge of brain function suggests that the adequate. Expression of such behaviors requires the integrity of cortical, limbic and extrapyramidal structures. The pharmacology of cocaine suggests that it could have both direct and indirect effects on the development of these brain regions through actions on monoamines and opioid peptides. The possibility that the behavioral abnormalities might be due to measurable alterations in the structure and function of these brain regions will be examined in five interactive projects that will cover various developmental periods from mid-gestation to adulthood. Each project will test specific hypotheses that predict the occurrence of cocaine induced abnormalities as measured by behavioral, physiological, anatomical, pharmacological, neurochemical and molecular analyses. A core facility will be established to assure a consistent program of housing, breeding, administration of cocaine or vehicle to the pregnant dams, measurement of plasma and brain content of cocaine in dam and fetus, determination of any abnormalities in the neonate, cross fostering of neonates, paired feedings when appropriate, neurological and behavioral assessment of some developmental landmarks and adequate supply of animals at various ages. The exposure to cocaine and thus establish an animal model that be employed to develop method for the treatment and prevention of such abnormalities in children.