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Willford JA, Kaufman JM. Through a teratological lens: A narrative review of exposure to stress and drugs of abuse during pregnancy on neurodevelopment. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2024; 105:107384. [PMID: 39187031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2024.107384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Teratological research shows that both prenatal stress and prenatal substance exposure have a significant impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. Using human research, the purpose of this narrative review is to explore the degree to which these exposures may represent complex prenatal and postnatal risks for the development of cognition and behavior in children. An understanding of the HPA axis and its function during pregnancy as well as the types and operationalization of prenatal stress provide a context for understanding the direct and indirect mechanisms by which prenatal stress affects brain and behavior development. In turn, prenatal substance exposure studies are evaluated for their importance in understanding variables that indicate a potential interaction with prenatal stress including reactivity to novelty, arousal, and stress reactivity during early childhood. The similarities and differences between prenatal stress exposure and prenatal substance exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes including arousal and emotion regulation, cognition, behavior, stress reactivity, and risk for psychopathology are summarized. Further considerations for teratological studies of prenatal stress and/or substance exposure include identifying and addressing methodological challenges, embracing the complexity of pre-and postnatal environments in the research, and the importance of incorporating parenting and resilience into future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Willford
- Slippery Rock University, Department of Psychology, 1 Morrow Way, Slippery Rock, PA 16057, United States of America.
| | - Jesse M Kaufman
- Slippery Rock University, Department of Psychology, 1 Morrow Way, Slippery Rock, PA 16057, United States of America
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2
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Singer LT, Albert JM, Minnes S, Min MO, Kim JY. Infant Behaviors, Prenatal Cocaine Exposure, and Adult Intelligence. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2411905. [PMID: 38758554 PMCID: PMC11102018 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Linking prenatal drug exposures to both infant behavior and adult cognitive outcomes may improve early interventions. Objective To assess whether neonatal physical, neurobehavioral, and infant cognitive measures mediate the association between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and adult perceptual reasoning IQ. Design, Setting, and Participants This study used data from a longitudinal, prospective birth cohort study with follow-up from 1994 to 2018 until offspring were 21 years post partum. A total of 384 (196 PCE and 188 not exposed to cocaine [NCE]) infants and mothers were screened for cocaine or polydrug use. Structural equation modeling was performed from June to November 2023. Exposures Prenatal exposures to cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco assessed through urine and meconium analyses and maternal self-report. Main Outcomes and Measures Head circumference, neurobehavioral assessment, Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence score, Wechsler Perceptual Reasoning IQ, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) score, and blood lead level. Results Among the 384 mothers in the study, the mean (SD) age at delivery was 27.7 (5.3) years (range, 18-41 years), 375 of 383 received public assistance (97.9%) and 336 were unmarried (87.5%). Birth head circumference (standardized estimate for specific path association, -0.05, SE = 0.02; P = .02) and 1-year Bayley Mental Development Index (MDI) (standardized estimate for total of the specific path association, -0.05, SE = 0.02; P = .03) mediated the association of PCE with Wechsler Perceptual Reasoning IQ, controlling for HOME score and other substance exposures. Abnormal results on the neurobehavioral assessment were associated with birth head circumference (β = -0.20, SE = 0.08; P = .01). Bayley Psychomotor Index (β = 0.39, SE = 0.05; P < .001) and Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence score (β = 0.16, SE = 0.06; P = .01) at 6.5 months correlated with MDI at 12 months. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, a negative association of PCE with adult perceptual reasoning IQ was mediated by early physical and behavioral differences, after controlling for other drug and environmental factors. Development of infant behavioral assessments to identify sequelae of prenatal teratogens early in life may improve long-term outcomes and public health awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn T. Singer
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Jeffrey M. Albert
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Sonia Minnes
- Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | - June-Yung Kim
- Department of Social Work College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
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Riyahi J, Taslimi Z, Gelfo F, Petrosini L, Haghparast A. Trans-generational effects of parental exposure to drugs of abuse on offspring memory functions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 160:105644. [PMID: 38548003 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Recent evidence reported that parental-derived phenotypes can be passed on to the next generations. Within the inheritance of epigenetic characteristics allowing the transmission of information related to the ancestral environment to the offspring, the specific case of the trans-generational effects of parental drug addiction has been extensively studied. Drug addiction is a chronic disorder resulting from complex interactions among environmental, genetic, and drug-related factors. Repeated exposures to drugs induce epigenetic changes in the reward circuitry that in turn mediate enduring changes in brain function. Addictive drugs can exert their effects trans-generally and influence the offspring of addicted parents. Although there is growing evidence that shows a wide range of behavioral, physiological, and molecular phenotypes in inter-, multi-, and trans-generational studies, transmitted phenotypes often vary widely even within similar protocols. Given the breadth of literature findings, in the present review, we restricted our investigation to learning and memory performances, as examples of the offspring's complex behavioral outcomes following parental exposure to drugs of abuse, including morphine, cocaine, cannabinoids, nicotine, heroin, and alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Riyahi
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Science and Technology in Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Taslimi
- Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Francesca Gelfo
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy; Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Abbas Haghparast
- Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Basic Sciences, Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Enright EA, Eick SM, Morello-Frosch R, Aguiar A, Woodbury ML, Sprowles JLN, Geiger SD, Trowbridge J, Andrade A, Smith S, Park JS, DeMicco E, Padula AM, Woodruff TJ, Schantz SL. Associations of prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with measures of cognition in 7.5-month-old infants: An exploratory study. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2023; 98:107182. [PMID: 37172619 PMCID: PMC10762627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2023.107182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to a wide array of adverse maternal and child health outcomes. However, studies examining PFAS in relation to offspring cognition have been inconclusive. OBJECTIVE We examined whether prenatal exposure to a mixture of PFAS was related to cognition in 7.5-month-old infants. METHODS Our analytic sample included participants enrolled in the Chemicals in Our Bodies (CIOB) and Illinois Kids Development Study (IKIDS) cohorts (N = 163). Seven PFAS were measured in 2nd trimester maternal serum samples and were detected in >65% of participants. Infant cognition was measured with a visual recognition memory task using an infrared eye tracker when infants were 7.5 months old. This task included familiarization trials where each infant was shown two identical faces and test trials where each infant was shown the familiar face paired with a novel face. In familiarization, we assessed average run duration (time looking at familiarization stimuli before looking away) as a measure of information processing speed, in addition to time to familiarization (time to reach 20 s of looking at stimuli) and shift rate (the number of times infants looked between stimuli), both as measures of attention. In test trials, we assessed novelty preference (proportion of time looking to the novel face) to measure recognition memory. Linear regression was used to estimate associations of individual PFAS with cognitive outcomes, while Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to estimate mixture effects. RESULTS In adjusted single-PFAS linear regression models, an interquartile range increase in PFNA, PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFDeA, and PFUdA was associated with an increase in shift rate, reflecting better visual attention. Using BKMR, increasing quartiles of the PFAS mixture was similarly associated with a modest increase in shift rate. There were no significant associations between PFAS exposure and time to reach familiarization (another measure of attention), average run duration (information processing speed), or novelty preference (visual recognition memory). CONCLUSION In our study population, prenatal PFAS exposure was modestly associated with an increase in shift rate and was not strongly associated with any adverse cognitive outcomes in 7.5-month-old infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Enright
- Department of Psychology, St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, MD, USA.
| | - Stephanie M Eick
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management and School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andréa Aguiar
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Megan L Woodbury
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA; College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jenna L N Sprowles
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA; ICF, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sarah Dee Geiger
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA; Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Jessica Trowbridge
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aileen Andrade
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sabrina Smith
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - June-Soo Park
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Erin DeMicco
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Amy M Padula
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tracey J Woodruff
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susan L Schantz
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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Moore BF, Salmons KA, Hoyt AT, Swenson KS, Bates EA, Sauder KA, Shapiro ALB, Wilkening G, Kinney GL, Neophytou AM, Sempio C, Klawitter J, Christians U, Dabelea D. Associations between Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to Cannabis with Cognition and Behavior at Age 5 Years: The Healthy Start Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4880. [PMID: 36981794 PMCID: PMC10049128 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to cannabis may influence childhood cognition and behavior, but the epidemiologic evidence is mixed. Even less is known about the potential impact of secondhand exposure to cannabis during early childhood. OBJECTIVE This study sought to assess whether prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to cannabis was associated with childhood cognition and behavior. STUDY DESIGN This sub-study included a convenience sample of 81 mother-child pairs from a Colorado-based cohort. Seven common cannabinoids (including delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)) and their metabolites were measured in maternal urine collected mid-gestation and child urine collected at age 5 years. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to cannabis was dichotomized as exposed (detection of any cannabinoid) and not exposed. Generalized linear models examined the associations between prenatal or postnatal exposure to cannabis with the NIH Toolbox and Child Behavior Checklist T-scores at age 5 years. RESULTS In this study, 7% (n = 6) of the children had prenatal exposure to cannabis and 12% (n = 10) had postnatal exposure to cannabis, with two children experiencing this exposure at both time points. The most common cannabinoid detected in pregnancy was Δ9-THC, whereas the most common cannabinoid detected in childhood was CBD. Postnatal exposure to cannabis was associated with more aggressive behavior (β: 3.2; 95% CI: 0.5, 5.9), attention deficit/hyperactivity problems (β: 8.0; 95% CI: 2.2, 13.7), and oppositional/defiant behaviors (β: 3.2; 95% CI: 0.2, 6.3), as well as less cognitive flexibility (β: -15.6; 95% CI: -30.0, -1.2) and weaker receptive language (β: -9.7; 95% CI: -19.2, -0.3). By contrast, prenatal exposure to cannabis was associated with fewer internalizing behaviors (mean difference: -10.2; 95% CI: -20.3, -0.2) and fewer somatic complaints (mean difference: -5.2, 95% CI: -9.8, -0.6). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that postnatal exposure to cannabis is associated with more behavioral and cognitive problems among 5-year-old children, independent of prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco. The potential risks of cannabis use (including smoking and vaping) during pregnancy and around young children should be more widely communicated to parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna F. Moore
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, Health Science Center, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kaytlyn A. Salmons
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Adrienne T. Hoyt
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Health Science Center, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Karli S. Swenson
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Emily A. Bates
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Katherine A. Sauder
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Allison L. B. Shapiro
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Greta Wilkening
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Gregory L. Kinney
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Andreas M. Neophytou
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Cristina Sempio
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Jost Klawitter
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Uwe Christians
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Singer LT, Lewis BA, Noland JS. Commentary: Totality of the Evidence Suggests Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Does Not Lead to Cognitive Impairments: A Systematic and Critical Review. Front Psychol 2021; 12:651064. [PMID: 33746861 PMCID: PMC7969787 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.651064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lynn T. Singer
- Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Psychological Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Barbara A. Lewis
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, GA, United States
| | - Julia S. Noland
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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Singer LT, Chambers C, Coles C, Kable J. Fifty Years of Research on Prenatal Substances: Lessons Learned for the Opioid Epidemic. ADVERSITY AND RESILIENCE SCIENCE 2020; 1:223-234. [PMID: 34316723 PMCID: PMC8312986 DOI: 10.1007/s42844-020-00021-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Current efforts to design research on developmental effects of prenatal opioid exposure can benefit from knowledge gained from 50 years of studies of fetal alcohol and prenatal drug exposures such as cocaine. Scientific advances in neurobiology, developmental psychopathology, infant assessments, genetics, and imaging support the principles of developmental neurotoxicology that guide research in prenatal exposures. Important to research design is accurate assessment of amount, frequency, and timing of exposure which benefits from accurate self-report and biomarkers of exposure. Identifying and control of pre- and postnatal factors that impact development are difficult and dependent on appropriate research design and selection of comparison groups and measurement of confounding, mediating, and moderating variables. Polysubstance exposure has increased due to the number of prescribed and nonprescribed substances used by pregnant women and varying combinations of drugs may have differential effects on the outcome. Multiple experimental and clinical assessments of infant behavior have been developed but predicting outcome before 18-24 months of age remains difficult. With some exceptions, prenatal substance exposure effect sizes have been small, and cognitive and behavioral effects tend to be specific rather than global. Studies require large sample sizes, adequate retention, and support for social services in at-risk samples. The ethical and legal contexts and stigma associated with drug/alcohol use disorder should be considered in order to prevent harm to families in research programs. Recognition of the pervasive use of addictive substances in this nation should lead to broad scientific efforts to understand how substances affect child outcomes and to initiate prevention and intervention where needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn T. Singer
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, WG49, Cleveland, OH 44106-7001, USA
| | - Christina Chambers
- Health Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Claire Coles
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Julie Kable
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Dzwilewski KLC, Merced-Nieves FM, Aguiar A, Korrick SA, Schantz SL. Characterization of performance on an automated visual recognition memory task in 7.5-month-old infants. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2020; 81:106904. [PMID: 32485220 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2020.106904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Infant looking behaviors measured during visual assessment paradigms may be more reliable predictors of long-term cognitive outcomes than standard measures such as the Bayley Scales of Infant Development typically used in environmental epidemiology. Infrared eye tracking technology offers an innovative approach to automate collection and processing of looking behavior data, making it possible to efficiently assess large numbers of infants. The goals of this study were to characterize infant looking behavior measures including side preference, fixation duration, and novelty preference using eye tracking and an automated version of an established visual recognition memory paradigm that includes both human faces and geometric figures as stimuli. An ancillary goal was to assess the feasibility of obtaining a precise measure of looking to the eye region of faces from the eye-tracking data. In this study, 309 7.5-month-old infants from a prospective birth cohort were assessed using a visual recognition memory (VRM) paradigm. Infrared eye tracking was used to record looking time as infants were shown nine blocks of trials with a pair of identical faces or shapes followed by two trials in which the familiar stimulus was paired with a novel one. Infants were assessed in one of four conditions: in conditions A and B, stimulus set 1 were the familiar stimuli and set 2 were novel; in conditions C and D, set 2 were familiar and set 1 novel. The novel stimuli were presented on the right first in conditions A and C and on the left first in conditions B and D. We observed a significant right side preference, which has not been reported before (57% of looking time spent looking at right side stimulus, p-value < 0.0001). Infants showed a preference for the novel stimuli similar to that published in prior studies (57-60% of looking time spent looking at the novel stimulus, p-value < 0.0001), as well as average fixation durations similar to previous studies. Infants also showed a strong preference for the eyes versus the rest of the face (p-value < 0.0001). Novelty preference was significantly higher when set 2 stimuli were novel (p-value < 0.0001), suggesting a preference among infants for set 2 stimuli compared to set 1 stimuli. The pattern of novelty preference across trials was significantly different between infants who saw the novel stimuli on the left first and those who saw them on the right first (p-value < 0.0001) but the overall mean novelty preference was not significantly different between these groups. There were also significant differences in average fixation duration and eyes preference measures across stimuli (p-values < 0.05). These findings show that VRM assessment can be automated for use in large-scale epidemiological studies using infrared eye tracking with looking behavior measure results similar to those obtained with standard non-automated methods, and that side and stimulus preferences are important modifiers of looking behavior that are critical to consider in this type of assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey L C Dzwilewski
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America.
| | - Francheska M Merced-Nieves
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America.
| | - Andrea Aguiar
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 3505 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61802, United States of America.
| | - Susan A Korrick
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - Susan L Schantz
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 3505 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, IL 61802, United States of America.
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Torres CA, Medina-Kirchner C, O'Malley KY, Hart CL. Totality of the Evidence Suggests Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Does Not Lead to Cognitive Impairments: A Systematic and Critical Review. Front Psychol 2020; 11:816. [PMID: 32457680 PMCID: PMC7225289 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite limited data demonstrating pronounced negative effects of prenatal cannabis exposure, popular opinion and public policies still reflect the belief that cannabis is fetotoxic. Methods: This article provides a critical review of results from longitudinal studies examining the impact of prenatal cannabis exposure on multiple domains of cognitive functioning in individuals aged 0 to 22 years. A literature search was conducted through PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Articles were included if they examined the cognitive performance of offspring exposed to cannabis in utero. Results: An examination of the total number of statistical comparisons (n = 1,001) between groups of participants that were exposed to cannabis prenatally and non-exposed controls revealed that those exposed performed differently on a minority of cognitive outcomes (worse on <3.5 percent and better in <1 percent). The clinical significance of these findings appears to be limited because cognitive performance scores of cannabis-exposed groups overwhelmingly fell within the normal range when compared against normative data adjusted for age and education. Conclusions: The current evidence does not suggest that prenatal cannabis exposure alone is associated with clinically significant cognitive functioning impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara A Torres
- School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Kate Y O'Malley
- Division on Substance Use, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States.,Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Carl L Hart
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.,Division on Substance Use, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
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Barbosa-Méndez S, Salazar-Juárez A. Prenatal and postnatal cocaine exposure enhances the induction and expression of locomotor sensitization to cocaine in rats. Reprod Toxicol 2020; 93:235-249. [PMID: 32173415 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal and postnatal exposure to cocaine can affect the development and function of the central nervous system in offspring. It also produces changes in cocaine-induced dopamine release and increases cocaine self-administration and cocaine-induced conditioned place preference. Further, prenatal cocaine exposure involves greater risk for development of a substance use disorder in adolescents. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of prenatal and postnatal cocaine exposure on locomotor sensitization in rats. A group of pregnant female Wistar rats were administered daily from day GD0 to GD21 with cocaine (cocaine pre-exposure group) and another group pregnant female rats were administered daily with saline (saline pre-exposure group). During lactation (PND0 to PND21) pregnant rats also received cocaine administration or saline, respectively. Of the litters resulting of the cocaine pre-exposed and saline pre-exposed pregnant female groups, only the male rats were used for the recording of the locomotor activity induced by different doses of cocaine (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/Kg/day) during the induction and expression of locomotor sensitization at different postnatal ages (30, 60, 90 and 120 days), representative of adolescence and adult ages. The study found that prenatal and postnatal cocaine exposure enhanced locomotor activity and locomotor sensitization, and such increase was dose- and age-dependent. This suggests that prenatal and postnatal cocaine exposure can result in increased vulnerability to cocaine abuse in young and adult humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Barbosa-Méndez
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimenta, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, Ciudad de México, 14370, Mexico
| | - Alberto Salazar-Juárez
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Conductual, Microcirugía y Terapéutica Experimenta, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, Ciudad de México, 14370, Mexico.
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Episodic Prenatal Exposure To Ethanol Affects Postnatal Neurogenesis In The Macaque Dentate Gyrus And Visual Recognition Memory. Int J Dev Neurosci 2019; 79:65-75. [PMID: 31706015 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a prime cause of cognitive dysfunction. The present study tested the hypotheses (a) that gestational ethanol exposure results in deficits in hippocampal-related behaviors and associated neurogenesis and (b) that the period of gastrulation is a time of vulnerability. Pregnant macaques were intubated with ethanol or saline once per week for 3, 6, or 24 weeks. Exposures included or omitted the period of gastrulation. Offspring were given behavioral tests including a Visual-Paired Comparison (VPC), a hippocampal-associated memory task, and euthanized as adolescents. Their dentate gyri were processed for immunohistochemical identification of cells passing through the cell cycle (Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen), exiting the cell cycle (p21), or passing through early stages of neuronal morphogenesis (Tuj1). Performance in neurobehavioral tasks was unaffected by ethanol exposure, the notable exception being performance in the VPC that was poorer for macaques exposed to ethanol including gastrulation. Anatomical studies show that the expression of Ki-67 was greater and ratio of p21-positive cells to the ratio of Ki-67-expressing cells was lower in animals in which the ethanol exposure included gastrulation. On the other hand, no ethanol-induced differences in TuJ1 expression were detected. Thus, the dentate gyrus is a bellwether of long-term consequences of gestational ethanol exposure. Targeted effects of ethanol on early neural generation (cell cycle and cycle exit) correlate with the timing-dependent degradation in VPC performance and exposure during gastrulation results in notable deficits. These changes evidence a pattern of fetal programming underlying FAS.
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Grant KS, Crouthamel B, Kenney C, McKain N, Petroff R, Shum S, Jing J, Isoherranen N, Burbacher TM. Preclinical modeling of exposure to a global marine bio-contaminant: Effects of in utero Domoic acid exposure on neonatal behavior and infant memory. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2019; 73:1-8. [PMID: 30690118 PMCID: PMC6511476 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Domoic Acid (DA) is a naturally-occurring marine neurotoxin that is increasingly recognized as an important public health issue. Prenatal DA exposure occurs through the maternal consumption of contaminated shellfish/finfish. To better understand the fetal risks associated with DA, we initiated a longitudinal, preclinical study focused on the reproductive and developmental effects of chronic, low-dose oral DA exposure. To this end, 32 adult female Macaca fascicularis monkeys were orally dosed with 0, 0.075 or 0.15 mg/kg/day DA on a daily basis prior to breeding and throughout breeding and pregnancy. The doses included the proposed human Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) (0.075 mg/kg/day) for DA. Adult females were bred to nonexposed males. To evaluate development during early infancy, offspring were administered a Neonatal Assessment modeled after the human Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale and a series of Visual Recognition Memory problems using the novelty paradigm. Results indicated that prenatal DA exposure did not impact early survival reflexes or responsivity to the environment. Findings from the recognition memory assessment, given between 1 and 2 months of age, showed that exposed and control infants demonstrated robust novelty scores when test problems were relatively easy to solve. Performance was not diminished by the introduction of delay periods. However, when more difficult recognition problems were introduced, the looking behavior of the 0.15 mg/kg DA group was random and infants failed to show differential visual attention to novel test stimuli. This finding suggests subtle but significant impairment in recognition memory and demonstrates that chronic fetal exposure to DA may impact developing cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly S Grant
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Brenda Crouthamel
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Caroline Kenney
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Noelle McKain
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rebekah Petroff
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sara Shum
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jing Jing
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nina Isoherranen
- Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Thomas M Burbacher
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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Delplancke TDJ, Wu Y, Han TL, Joncer LR, Qi H, Tong C, Baker PN. Metabolomics of Pregnancy Complications: Emerging Application of Maternal Hair. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:2815439. [PMID: 30662903 PMCID: PMC6312607 DOI: 10.1155/2018/2815439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the study of metabolomics has begun to receive increasing international attention, especially as it pertains to medical research. This is due in part to the potential for discovery of new biomarkers in the metabolome and to a new understanding of the "exposome", which refers to the endogenous and exogenous compounds that reflect external exposures. Consequently, metabolomics research into pregnancy-related issues has increased. Biomarkers discovered through metabolomics may shed some light on the etiology of certain pregnancy-related complications and their adverse effects on future maternal health and infant development and improve current clinical management. The discoveries and methods used in these studies will be compiled and summarized within the following paper. A further focus of this paper is the use of hair as a biological sample, which is gaining increasing attention across diverse fields due to its noninvasive sampling method and the metabolome stability. Its significance in exposome studies will be considered in this review, as well as the potential to associate exposures with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Currently, hair has been used in only two metabolomics studies relating to fetal growth restriction (FGR) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut D. J. Delplancke
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Ting-Li Han
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lingga R. Joncer
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hongbo Qi
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Chao Tong
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Philip N. Baker
- International Collaborative Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- College of Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
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Gkioka E, Korou LM, Daskalopoulou A, Misitzi A, Batsidis E, Bakoyiannis I, Pergialiotis V. Prenatal cocaine exposure and its impact on cognitive functions of offspring: a pathophysiological insight. Rev Neurosci 2018; 27:523-34. [PMID: 26953708 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2015-0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It is estimated that approximately 0.5%-3% of fetuses are prenatally exposed to cocaine (COC). The neurodevelopmental implications of this exposure are numerous and include motor skill impairments, alterations of social function, predisposition to anxiety, and memory function and attention deficits; these implications are commonly observed in experimental studies and ultimately affect both learning and IQ. According to previous studies, the clinical manifestations of prenatal COC exposure seem to persist at least until adolescence. The pathophysiological cellular processes that underlie these impairments include dysfunctional myelination, disrupted dendritic architecture, and synaptic alterations. On a molecular level, various neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, catecholamines, and γ-aminobutyric acid seem to participate in this process. Finally, prenatal COC abuse has been also associated with functional changes in the hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that mediate neuroendocrine responses. The purpose of this review is to summarize the neurodevelopmental consequences of prenatal COC abuse, to describe the pathophysiological pathways that underlie these consequences, and to provide implications for future research in the field.
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Scott-Goodwin A, Puerto M, Moreno I. Toxic effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 61:120-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Singer LT, Minnes S, Min MO, Lewis BA, Short EJ. Prenatal cocaine exposure and child outcomes: a conference report based on a prospective study from Cleveland. Hum Psychopharmacol 2015; 30:285-9. [PMID: 26216564 PMCID: PMC4595926 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Revised: 11/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study aims to describe developmental outcomes from a longitudinal prospective cohort (Cleveland study) of prenatally cocaine-exposed (CE) infants. METHODS Two hundred eighteen CE and 197 nonexposed infants were enrolled at birth and followed through mid-adolescence. Birth CE status was determined by interview and biologic measures. Multiple demographic, drug, and environmental correlates were controlled. Standardized, normative, reliable measures of fetal growth, intelligence quotient (IQ), behavior, executive function, and language were given at each age and risk for substance misuse assessed in adolescence. A subset of children received volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 years and functional MRI at 14 years. The effect of CE was determined through multiple regression analyses controlling for confounders. RESULTS Cocaine exposed had significant negative effects on fetal growth, attention, executive function, language, and behavior, while overall IQ was not affected. CE had significant negative effects on perceptual reasoning IQ and visual-motor skills and predicted lower volume of corpus callosum and decreased gray matter in the occipital and parietal lobes. CE children had higher risk for substance misuse. Confounding risk factors had additive effects on developmental outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to cocaine was related to poorer perceptual organization IQ, visual-spatial information processing, attention, language, executive function, and behavior regulation through early adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonia Minnes
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Grewen K, Burchinal M, Vachet C, Gouttard S, Gilmore JH, Lin W, Johns J, Elam M, Gerig G. Prenatal cocaine effects on brain structure in early infancy. Neuroimage 2014; 101:114-23. [PMID: 24999039 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.06.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2014] [Revised: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) is related to subtle deficits in cognitive and behavioral function in infancy, childhood and adolescence. Very little is known about the effects of in utero PCE on early brain development that may contribute to these impairments. The purpose of this study was to examine brain structural differences in infants with and without PCE. We conducted MRI scans of newborns (mean age = 5 weeks) to determine cocaine's impact on early brain structural development. Subjects were three groups of infants: 33 with PCE co-morbid with other drugs, 46 drug-free controls and 40 with prenatal exposure to other drugs (nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opiates, SSRIs) but without cocaine. Infants with PCE exhibited lesser total gray matter (GM) volume and greater total cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) volume compared with controls and infants with non-cocaine drug exposure. Analysis of regional volumes revealed that whole brain GM differences were driven primarily by lesser GM in prefrontal and frontal brain regions in infants with PCE, while more posterior regions (parietal, occipital) did not differ across groups. Greater CSF volumes in PCE infants were present in prefrontal, frontal and parietal but not occipital regions. Greatest differences (GM reduction, CSF enlargement) in PCE infants were observed in dorsal prefrontal cortex. Results suggest that PCE is associated with structural deficits in neonatal cortical gray matter, specifically in prefrontal and frontal regions involved in executive function and inhibitory control. Longitudinal study is required to determine whether these early differences persist and contribute to deficits in cognitive functions and enhanced risk for drug abuse seen at school age and in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Grewen
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Margaret Burchinal
- University of North Carolina, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Clement Vachet
- University of Utah, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sylvain Gouttard
- University of Utah, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - John H Gilmore
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Weili Lin
- University of North Carolina, Biomedical Research Imaging Center, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Josephine Johns
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mala Elam
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Guido Gerig
- University of Utah, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Kabir ZD, Katzman AC, Kosofsky BE. Molecular mechanisms mediating a deficit in recall of fear extinction in adult mice exposed to cocaine in utero. PLoS One 2013; 8:e84165. [PMID: 24358339 PMCID: PMC3866142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal cocaine exposure has been shown to alter cognitive processes of exposed individuals, presumed to be a result of long-lasting molecular alterations in the brain. In adult prenatal cocaine exposed (PCOC) mice we have identified a deficit in recall of fear extinction, a behavior that is dependent on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the hippocampus. While we observed no change in the constitutive expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein and mRNA in the mPFC and hippocampus of adult PCOC mice, we observed blunted BDNF signaling in the mPFC of adult PCOC mice after fear extinction compared to the control animals. Specifically, during the consolidation phase of the extinction memory, we observed a decrease in BDNF protein and it’s phospho-TrkB receptor expression. Interestingly, at this same time point there was a significant increase in total Bdnf mRNA levels in the mPFC of PCOC mice as compared with controls. In the Bdnf gene, we identified decreased constitutive binding of the transcription factors, MeCP2 and P-CREB at the promoters of Bdnf exons I and IV in the mPFC of PCOC mice, that unlike control mice remained unchanged when measured during the behavior. Finally, bilateral infusion of recombinant BDNF protein into the infralimbic subdivision of the mPFC during the consolidation phase of the extinction memory rescued the behavioral deficit in PCOC mice. In conclusion, these findings extend our knowledge of the neurobiologic impact of prenatal cocaine exposure on the mPFC of mice, which may lead to improved clinical recognition and treatment of exposed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeba D. Kabir
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- Brain and Mind Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Aaron C. Katzman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Barry E. Kosofsky
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- Brain and Mind Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Burbacher TM, Grant KS. Measuring infant memory: Utility of the visual paired-comparison test paradigm for studies in developmental neurotoxicology. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2012; 34:473-80. [PMID: 22750243 PMCID: PMC5420201 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2012.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2012] [Revised: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of brain function and behavior in young infants is central to understanding the effects of chemical exposure on central nervous system development. One approach to infant cognitive assessment, based on the direct observation of infant eye movements, is known as the Visual Paired-Comparison task. The Visual Paired-Comparison test methodology uses selective visual attention as a vehicle to study emerging recognition memory skills. The utility of this procedure to study visual recognition memory has been well established in both human and nonhuman primate infants. The primary outcome measure produced by this assessment technique is known as the Novelty Preference Score, reflecting the amount of time the infant spends actively looking at novel rather than familiar test stimuli. Visual recognition memory testing has demonstrated a strong sensitivity to conditions that may place infants at risk for poor developmental outcome (e.g. preterm birth, Down syndrome) and in humans; performance is significantly related to later measures of I.Q. and language competency. This assessment methodology has been successfully applied to the study of neurobehavioral effects after fetal neurotoxicant exposure. Field and laboratory studies have used tests of visual recognition memory to better understand the effects of compounds such as lead, methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls on emergent cognitive processing. The Visual Paired-Comparison paradigm and its capacity to measure recognition memory in preverbal infants provides a valid and theoretically meaningful approach to neurobehavioral assessment for studies in developmental toxicology and teratology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Burbacher
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Kabir ZD, Lourenco F, Byrne ME, Katzman A, Lee F, Rajadhyaksha AM, Kosofsky BE. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genotype impacts the prenatal cocaine-induced mouse phenotype. Dev Neurosci 2012; 34:184-97. [PMID: 22572518 DOI: 10.1159/000337712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal cocaine exposure leads to persistent alterations in the growth factor brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), particularly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus, brain regions important in cognitive functioning. BDNF plays an important role in the strengthening of existing synaptic connections as well as in the formation of new contacts during learning. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the BDNF gene (Val66Met), leading to a Met substitution for Val at codon 66 in the prodomain, is common in human populations, with an allele frequency of 20-30% in Caucasians. To study the interaction between prenatal cocaine exposure and BDNF, we have utilized a line of BDNF Val66Met transgenic mice on a Swiss Webster background in which BDNF(Met) is endogenously expressed. Examination of baseline levels of mature BDNF protein in the mPFC of prenatally cocaine-treated wild-type (Val66Val) and Val66Met mice revealed significantly lower levels compared to prenatally saline-treated mice. In contrast, in the hippocampus of prenatally saline- and cocaine-treated adult Val66Met mice, there were significantly lower levels of mature BDNF protein compared to Val66Val mice. In extinction of a conditioned fear, we found that prenatally cocaine-treated Val66Met mice had a deficit in recall of extinction. Examination of mature BDNF protein levels immediately after the test for extinction recall revealed lower levels in the mPFC of prenatally cocaine-treated Val66Met mice compared to saline-treated mice. However, 2 h after the extinction test, there was increased BDNF exons I, IV, and IX mRNA expression in the prelimbic cortex of the mPFC in the prenatally cocaine-treated BDNF Val66Met mice compared to prenatally saline-treated mice. Taken together, our results suggest the possibility that prenatal cocaine-induced constitutive alterations in BDNF mRNA and protein expression in the mPFC differentially poises animals for alterations in behaviorally induced gene activation, which are interactive with BDNF genotype and differentially impact those behaviors. Such findings in our prenatal cocaine mouse model suggest a gene X environment interaction of potential clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeba D Kabir
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA
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McLaughlin AA, Minnes S, Singer LT, Min M, Short EJ, Scott TL, Satayathum S. Caregiver and self-report of mental health symptoms in 9-year old children with prenatal cocaine exposure. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2011; 33:582-91. [PMID: 21764256 PMCID: PMC3595600 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2011.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2009] [Revised: 03/03/2011] [Accepted: 03/04/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of prenatal cocaine exposure on mental health symptoms in 9-year old children controlling for potential confounders. METHODS 332 children (170 prenatally cocaine-exposed (PCE), 162 non cocaine-exposed (NCE) were assessed using self (Dominic Interactive; DI) and caregiver report (Child Behavior Checklist; CBCL). RESULTS Higher levels of PCE were associated with caregiver report of clinically elevated aggressive and delinquent behavior. With each increased unit of PCE, children were 1.3 times more likely to be rated as aggressive (OR=1.30, 95% CI: 1.02-1.67, p<0.04). For each increased unit of PCE, girls were 2 times more likely to be rated as having delinquent behavior (OR=2.08, 95% CI: 1.46-2.96, p<0.0001). PCE status was also associated with increased odds of delinquent behavior (OR=2.41; 95% CI: 1.16-4.97, p=0.02), primarily due to the increased risk among girls with PCE. While girls with PCE status were 7 times more likely than NCE girls to have delinquent behaviors (OR=7.42; 95% CI: 2.03-27.11, p<0.002) boys with PCE did not demonstrate increased risk (OR=0.98; 95% CI: 0.36-2.65, p>0.97). Foster or adoptive parents were more likely to rate their PCE children as having more thought problems, inattention, delinquent behavior, aggression, externalizing and overall problems (p<0.05) than biologic mothers or relative caregivers. Higher 2nd trimester tobacco exposure was associated with increased odds of caregiver reported anxiety (OR=1.73; 95% CI 1.06-2.81, p<0.03) and marijuana exposure increased the odds of thought problems (OR=1.68; 95% CI 1.01-2.79, p<0.05). Children with PCE self-reported fewer symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) compared to NCE children (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.21-0.92, p<0.03). Greater tobacco exposure was associated with increased odds of child reported ODD (OR=1.24; 95% CI 1.03-1.78, p<0.03). CONCLUSION Higher PCE was associated with disruptive behaviors including aggression and delinquent behavior among girls by caregiver report, but not child report. These findings highlight the need for early behavioral assessment using multiple informants in multi-risk children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonia Minnes
- Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, United States
| | - Lynn T. Singer
- School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, United States
- School of Medicine Department of Environmental Health Sciences, United States
| | - Meeyoung Min
- Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, United States
| | | | - Teresa Linares Scott
- Case Western Reserve University, United States
- University of Vermont, United States
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Minnes S, Lang A, Singer L. Prenatal tobacco, marijuana, stimulant, and opiate exposure: outcomes and practice implications. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2011; 6:57-70. [PMID: 22003423 PMCID: PMC3188826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abuse of drugs by pregnant women both in the United States and worldwide has raised many questions regarding the effects of prenatal drug exposure on the developing fetus and subsequent child outcomes. Studies using the neurobehavioral teratology model have been undertaken to determine specific prenatal drug effects on cognitive and behavioral development. Here we summarize the findings of studies that have investigated the developmental effects of prenatal exposure to tobacco, marijuana, stimulants, and opiates. These studies consider the timing and amount of prenatal exposure; other drug exposures; maternal characteristics; and other health, nutritional, and environmental factors. We review treatment options for pregnant, substance-dependent women and therapeutic interventions for exposed children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Minnes
- Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio,CORRESPONDENCE: Sonia Minnes, Case Western Reserve University, 11235 Bellflower Road, Room 304, Cleveland, OH 44106; e-mail:
| | - Adelaide Lang
- Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Lynn Singer
- School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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Hamilton LR, Czoty PW, Nader MA. Behavioral characterization of adult male and female rhesus monkeys exposed to cocaine throughout gestation. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2011; 213:799-808. [PMID: 20959969 PMCID: PMC3033984 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2038-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2010] [Accepted: 09/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE In utero cocaine exposure has been associated with alterations in the dopamine (DA) system in monkeys. However, the behavioral outcomes of prenatal cocaine exposure in adulthood are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES To assess several behavioral measures in 14-year-old rhesus monkeys exposed to cocaine in utero and controls (n = 10 per group). MATERIALS AND METHODS For these studies, two unconditioned behavioral tasks, novel object reactivity and locomotor activity, and two conditioned behavioral tasks, response extinction and delay discounting, were examined. In addition, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were analyzed for concentrations of the monoamine metabolites homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA). RESULTS No differences in CSF concentrations of 5-HIAA and HVA, latencies to touch a novel object or locomotor activity measures were observed between groups or sexes. However, prenatally cocaine-exposed monkeys required a significantly greater number of sessions to reach criteria for extinction of food-reinforced behavior than control monkeys. On the delay-discounting task, male prenatally cocaine-exposed monkeys switched preference from the larger reinforcer to the smaller one at shorter delay values than male control monkeys; no differences were observed in females. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that prenatal cocaine exposure results in long-term neurobehavioral deficits that are influenced by sex of the individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey R Hamilton
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 546 NRC, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1083, USA
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Lewis BA, Minnes S, Short EJ, Weishampel P, Satayathum S, Min MO, Nelson S, Singer LT. The effects of prenatal cocaine on language development at 10 years of age. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2010; 33:17-24. [PMID: 20600843 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2010.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2009] [Revised: 06/21/2010] [Accepted: 06/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the long term effects of prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) on the language development of 10-year-old children utilizing a prospective design, controlling for confounding drug and environmental factors. PARTICIPANTS Children exposed to cocaine in utero (PCE; n=175) and non-exposed children (NCE; n=175) were followed prospectively to 10years of age and were compared on language subscales of the Test of Language Development-Intermediate 3rd Edition (TOLD-I:3) and phonological processing as measured by the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (CTOPP). METHODS Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), linear regression, and logistic regressions were used to evaluate the relationship of prenatal cocaine exposure to language development, while controlling for confounders. RESULTS After controlling for confounding variables, prenatal cocaine effects were observed for specific aspects of language including syntax (Sentence Combining subtest of the TOLD-I:3, p=0.001), semantics (Malopropism subtest of the TOLD-I:3, p=0.05) and phonological processing (Phonological Awareness subscale, p=0.01). The caregiver factors of vocabulary, HOME, and psychological symptoms also had consistent effects on language subtests and phonological processing scores. Children with PCE who experienced foster or adoptive care had enhanced language development compared to those living with birth mothers or in relative care. Cocaine exposed girls had lower scores on the phonological awareness subscale of the CTOPP than non-exposed girls. CONCLUSIONS PCE has subtle effects on specific aspects of language development and phonological processing at age 10, even after controlling for confounding variables. Environmental factors (i.e., postnatal lead exposure, home environment, and caregiver vocabulary and psychological symptoms) also impact language skills at 10years. Adoptive or foster care appears to enrich PCE children's linguistic environment and protects children against language delay in the PCE sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara A Lewis
- Department of Communication Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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Eiden RD, McAuliffe S, Kachadourian L, Coles C, Colder C, Schuetze P. Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on infant reactivity and regulation. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2009; 31:60-8. [PMID: 18822371 PMCID: PMC2631277 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2008.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2008] [Revised: 07/21/2008] [Accepted: 08/22/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the role of prenatal cocaine exposure and associated risk factors on infant reactivity and regulation at 7 months of infant age. Participants consisted of 167 mother-infant dyads participating in an ongoing longitudinal study of prenatal cocaine exposure, who completed the arm restraint procedure at the 7-month assessment (87 cocaine exposed, 80 non-cocaine exposed). We hypothesized that cocaine exposed infants would display higher arousal or reactivity and lower regulation during a procedure designed to arouse anger/frustration. Results indicated that cocaine exposed infants were more reactive to increases in the level of stress from trial 1 to trial 2 but exhibited no change in the number of regulatory strategies as stress increased, unlike the control group infants. Infant birth weight moderated the association between cocaine exposure and infant regulation. Among cocaine exposed infants, those with lower birth weight displayed higher reactivity compared to those with higher birth weight. Contrary to expectations, there were no indirect effects between cocaine exposure and infant reactivity/regulation via environmental risk, parenting, or birth weight. Results are supportive of a teratological model of prenatal cocaine exposure for infant reactivity/regulation in infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina D Eiden
- University at Buffalo, State University at New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA.
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Avants BB, Hurt H, Giannetta JM, Epstein CL, Shera DM, Rao H, Wang J, Gee JC. Effects of heavy in utero cocaine exposure on adolescent caudate morphology. Pediatr Neurol 2007; 37:275-9. [PMID: 17903672 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2007.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2006] [Revised: 01/26/2007] [Accepted: 06/07/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We assess the effects of in utero cocaine and polysubstance exposure on the adolescent caudate nucleus through high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Cocaine exposure may compromise the developing brain through disruption of neural ontogeny in dopaminergic systems, effects secondary to fetal hypoxemia, or altered cerebrovascular reactivity. Cocaine exposure may also lead to neonatal lesions in the caudate. However, long-term or latent effects of intrauterine cocaine exposure are rarely found. We use T(1)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to quantify caudate nucleus morphology in matched control and exposed groups. The literature suggests that in utero cocaine exposure consequences in adolescents may be subtle, or masked by other variables. Our comparison focuses on contrasting the control group with high-exposure subjects (mothers who reported 2 median of 117 days of cocaine use during pregnancy; 82% tested positive for cocaine use at term). We use advanced image registration and segmentation tools to quantify left and right caudate morphology. Our results indicate that the caudate is significantly larger in controls versus subjects (P < 0.0025), implying cocaine exposure-related detriments to the dopaminergic system. The right (P < 0.025) and left (P < 0.035) caudate, studied independently, show the same significant trend. Permutation testing and the false discovery rate were used to assess significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian B Avants
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
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Lewis BA, Kirchner HL, Short EJ, Minnes S, Weishampel P, Satayathum S, Singer LT. Prenatal cocaine and tobacco effects on children's language trajectories. Pediatrics 2007; 120:e78-85. [PMID: 17606552 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-2563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine the effects of prenatal cocaine and polydrug exposure on language development of preschool children using a prospective longitudinal model, controlling for confounders. METHODS Children who were exposed to cocaine in utero (n = 209) and nonexposed children (n = 189) were followed prospectively at birth and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 years of age and were compared on receptive, expressive, and total language scores across time using random coefficient models, controlling for confounders. RESULTS A significant, stable effect of cocaine exposure on language development was observed over time for all language domains, with cocaine exposure related to poorer language performance. Cigarette exposure was related to lower receptive language scores. Environmental influences on language scores were also observed. Both the cocaine-exposed and nonexposed children declined in language performance over time. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal cocaine exposure has a stable negative effect on language skills during the first 6 years of life. Both cocaine-exposed and nonexposed children showed decreased language growth over time; however, cocaine-exposed children demonstrated linguistic deficits compared with nonexposed peers and did not catch up. Cigarette and environmental influences were also noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara A Lewis
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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