Prenatal Exposure to Cocaine: Impacts on Neuronal Plasticity and Behavioral Sensitivity in Adolescent Rats

• Grant number: 23/14542-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Cardoso Cruz
• Grantee: Isabella Silva Vieira
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/15505-4 - Neurobiology study of relapse to alcohol and cocaine seeking: identification of plasticity in neuronal ensembles that encodes addiction-related memories, AP.JP2

Abstract

The use of cocaine represents a serious public health issue worldwide, and it is particularly concerning when it occurs during pregnancy. The exact prevalence of cocaine use during pregnancy is not fully established, but estimates suggest that approximately 1.1% of pregnant women have used this substance at some point during gestation. Epidemiological studies identify an association between prenatal exposure to cocaine and a range of adverse outcomes for offspring, including an increased susceptibility to substance use disorders. Although studies demonstrate the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in behavioral responses to cocaine, to date, no study has conclusively demonstrated the role of this system in modulating behavioral responses in adolescent animals prenatally exposed to this drug. Therefore, the central aim of this study is to investigate the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on the neuronal plasticity of specific brain regions, such as the nucleus accumbens, the ventral tegmental area, and the amygdala, and understand how these changes are related to the heightened sensitivity to the rewarding and locomotor effects of cocaine in adolescent rats. Additionally, the study aims to determine if any behavioral alterations are associated with modifications in the endocannabinoid system. To achieve these objectives, the project is divided into two experiments. The first experiment will focus on evaluating the consequences of prenatal cocaine administration on various addiction-related behaviors, including locomotor response to this substance, cocaine discrimination testing, and neuronal activation in specific brain areas such as the nucleus accumbens, dorsal striatum, and amygdala. The second experiment, in turn, will investigate the consequences of prenatal cocaine exposure on the endocannabinoid system. In summary, this study seeks to provide valuable insights into the impacts of prenatal cocaine exposure on brain development and adolescent behavior, contributing to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of substance dependence and potentially aiding in the development of targeted intervention strategies.