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Garcia RCT, Spelta LEW, Udo MSB, Bruno V, Fonseca DA, de Faria Almeida CA, Dos Reis TM, Torres LH, Marcourakis T. Neurotoxicity of crack cocaine exposure: evidence from a systematic review of in vitro and in vivo studies. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:2797-2816. [PMID: 38769171 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03782-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Several studies suggest that crack cocaine users exhibit higher prevalence of both psychiatric and psychosocial problems, with an aggressive pattern of drug use. Nevertheless, few experimental studies attempted to verify the neurotoxicity after crack cocaine exposure, especially when compared with other routes of cocaine administration. This systematic review aimed to verify whether in vitro and/or in vivo crack cocaine exposure is more neurotoxic than cocaine exposure (snorted or injected). A search was performed in the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS databases for in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies conducted with either rats or mice, with no distinction with regard to sex or age. Other methods including BioRxiv, BDTD, Academic Google, citation searching, and specialist consultation were also adopted. Two independent investigators screened the titles and abstracts of retrieved studies and subsequently performed full-text reading and data extraction. The quality of the included studies was assessed by the Toxicological data Reliability assessment Tool (ToxRTool). The study protocol was registered with the Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42022332250). Of the twelve studies included, three were in vitro and nine were in vivo studies. According to the ToxRTool, most studies were considered reliable either with or without restrictions, with no one being considered as not reliable. The studies found neuroteratogenic effects, decreased threshold for epileptic seizures, schizophrenic-like symptoms, and cognitive deficits to be associated with crack cocaine exposure. Moreover, both in vitro and in vivo studies reported a worsening in cocaine neurotoxic effect caused by the anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), a cocaine main pyrolysis product, which is in line with the more aggressive pattern of crack cocaine use. This systematic review suggests that crack cocaine exposure is more neurotoxic than other routes of cocaine administration. However, before the scarcity of studies on this topic, further toxicological studies are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Caio Tamborelli Garcia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Lidia Emmanuela Wiazowski Spelta
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Sayuri Berto Udo
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vitor Bruno
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danilo Aguiar Fonseca
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Tiago Marques Dos Reis
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Larissa Helena Torres
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tania Marcourakis
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Margolis ET, Gabard-Durnam LJ. Prenatal influences on postnatal neuroplasticity: Integrating DOHaD and sensitive/critical period frameworks to understand biological embedding in early development. INFANCY 2024. [PMID: 38449347 DOI: 10.1111/infa.12588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Early environments can have significant and lasting effects on brain, body, and behavior across the lifecourse. Here, we address current research efforts to understand how experiences impact neurodevelopment with a new perspective integrating two well-known conceptual frameworks - the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) and sensitive/critical period frameworks. Specifically, we consider how prenatal experiences characterized in the DOHaD model impact two key neurobiological mechanisms of sensitive/critical periods for adapting to and learning from the postnatal environment. We draw from both animal and human research to summarize the current state of knowledge on how particular prenatal substance exposures (psychoactive substances and heavy metals) and nutritional profiles (protein-energy malnutrition and iron deficiency) each differentially impact brain circuits' excitation/GABAergic inhibition balance and myelination. Finally, we highlight new research directions that emerge from this integrated framework, including testing how prenatal environments alter sensitive/critical period timing and learning and identifying potential promotional/buffering prenatal exposures to impact postnatal sensitive/critical periods. We hope this integrative framework considering prenatal influences on postnatal neuroplasticity will stimulate new research to understand how early environments have lasting consequences on our brains, behavior, and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma T Margolis
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Souza-Silva EM, Alves RB, Simon KA, Hueza IM. Crack cocaine smoke on pregnant rats: Maternal evaluation and teratogenic effect. Hum Exp Toxicol 2019; 39:411-422. [PMID: 31789068 DOI: 10.1177/0960327119891219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate maternal toxicity, teratogenic, and placental oxidative effects resulting from the exposure of rats to crack cocaine smoke during pregnancy. Pregnant rats were exposed either to the smoke of crack and ashes (Crack) or to the smoke of ashes alone, nonexposed or pair-fed with the Crack group. Crack group was exposed to the smoke resulting from the burning of 250 mg of crack for 10 min, twice a day, from 7 days prior to mating until cesarian on gestational day 20. Placental oxidative stress and classical parameters of maternal and fetal evaluation were studied, in addition to the morphometric analysis of the fetal metamers. Even in the absence of changes in body weight gain and feed intake, crack altered the reproductive performance of dams. Exposure to the drug promoted late closure of the fetal fontanel. Furthermore, the morphometric study of the brain mass (BM)/skull cap ratio revealed a decrease in the BM of the fetuses exposed to the drug. Exposure to crack has an oxidative potential in fetal development, since exposure to the drug promoted placental lipid peroxidation. Our study showed that daily exposure to crack, even in lower frequency than that performed by users, has a teratogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- E M Souza-Silva
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (ICAQF-UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - R B Alves
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (ICAQF-UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - K A Simon
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (ICAQF-UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - I M Hueza
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (ICAQF-UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, Brazil
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Dos Santos JF, de Melo Bastos Cavalcante C, Barbosa FT, Gitaí DLG, Duzzioni M, Tilelli CQ, Shetty AK, de Castro OW. Maternal, fetal and neonatal consequences associated with the use of crack cocaine during the gestational period: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2018; 298:487-503. [PMID: 29951712 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-018-4833-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Crack cocaine consumption is one of the main public health challenges with a growing number of children intoxicated by crack cocaine during the gestational period. The primary goal is to evaluate the accumulating findings and to provide an updated perspective on this field of research. METHODS Meta-analyses were performed using the random effects model, odds ratio (OR) for categorical variables and mean difference for continuous variables. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I-squared statistic and risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Ten studies met eligibility criteria and were used for data extraction. RESULTS The crack cocaine use during pregnancy was associated with significantly higher odds of preterm delivery [odds ratio (OR), 2.22; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.59-3.10], placental displacement (OR, 2.03; 95% CI 1.66-2.48), reduced head circumference (- 1.65 cm; 95% CI - 3.12 to - 0.19), small for gestational age (SGA) (OR, 4.00; 95% CI 1.74-9.18) and low birth weight (LBW) (OR, 2.80; 95% CI 2.39-3.27). CONCLUSION This analysis provides clear evidence that crack cocaine contributes to adverse perinatal outcomes. The exposure of maternal or prenatal crack cocaine is pointedly linked to LBW, preterm delivery, placental displacement and smaller head circumference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jucilene Freitas Dos Santos
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Av. Lourival de Melo Mota, km 14, Campus A. C. Simões, Cidade Universitária, Maceió, AL, CEP 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Cibelle de Melo Bastos Cavalcante
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Av. Lourival de Melo Mota, km 14, Campus A. C. Simões, Cidade Universitária, Maceió, AL, CEP 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Timbó Barbosa
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Av. Lourival de Melo Mota, km 14, Campus A. C. Simões, Cidade Universitária, Maceió, AL, CEP 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Daniel Leite Góes Gitaí
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Av. Lourival de Melo Mota, km 14, Campus A. C. Simões, Cidade Universitária, Maceió, AL, CEP 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Duzzioni
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Av. Lourival de Melo Mota, km 14, Campus A. C. Simões, Cidade Universitária, Maceió, AL, CEP 57072-970, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Queixa Tilelli
- Central-West Campus Dona Lindu, Federal University of São João del-Rei (UFSJ), Divinópolis, MG, Brazil
| | - Ashok K Shetty
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Olagide Wagner de Castro
- Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Av. Lourival de Melo Mota, km 14, Campus A. C. Simões, Cidade Universitária, Maceió, AL, CEP 57072-970, Brazil.
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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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Shnitko TA, Mace KD, Sullivan KM, Martin WK, Andersen EH, Williams Avram SK, Johns JM, Robinson DL. Use of fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to assess phasic dopamine release in rat models of early postpartum maternal behavior and neglect. Behav Pharmacol 2017; 28:648-660. [PMID: 29068793 PMCID: PMC5680131 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal behavior (MB) is a complex response to infant cues, orchestrated by postpartum neurophysiology. Although mesolimbic dopamine contributes toward MB, little is known about real-time dopamine fluctuations during the postpartum period. Thus, we used fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to measure individual dopamine transients in the nucleus accumbens of early postpartum rats and compared them with dopamine transients in virgins and in postpartum females exposed to cocaine during pregnancy, which is known to disrupt MB. We hypothesized that dopamine transients are normally enhanced postpartum and support MB. In anesthetized rats, electrically evoked dopamine release was larger and clearance was faster in postpartum females than in virgins and gestational cocaine exposure blocked the change in clearance. In awake rats, control mothers showed more dopamine transients than cocaine-exposed mothers during MB. Salient pup-produced stimuli may contribute toward differences in maternal phasic dopamine by evoking dopamine transients; supporting the feasibility of this hypothesis, urine composition (glucose, ketones, and leukocytes) differed between unexposed and cocaine-exposed infants. These data, resulting from the novel application of fast-scan cyclic voltammetry to models of MB, support the hypothesis that phasic dopamine signaling is enhanced postpartum. Future studies with additional controls can delineate which aspects of gestational cocaine reduce dopamine clearance and transient frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana A. Shnitko
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kyla D. Mace
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kaitlin M. Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - W. Kyle Martin
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Josephine M. Johns
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Donita L. Robinson
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Mersereau EJ, Boyle CA, Poitra S, Espinoza A, Seiler J, Longie R, Delvo L, Szarkowski M, Maliske J, Chalmers S, Darland DC, Darland T. Longitudinal Effects of Embryonic Exposure to Cocaine on Morphology, Cardiovascular Physiology, and Behavior in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17060847. [PMID: 27258254 PMCID: PMC4926381 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17060847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A sizeable portion of the societal drain from cocaine abuse results from the complications of in utero drug exposure. Because of challenges in using humans and mammalian model organisms as test subjects, much debate remains about the impact of in utero cocaine exposure. Zebrafish offer a number of advantages as a model in longitudinal toxicology studies and are quite sensitive physiologically and behaviorally to cocaine. In this study, we have used zebrafish to model the effects of embryonic pre-exposure to cocaine on development and on subsequent cardiovascular physiology and cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in longitudinal adults. Larval fish showed a progressive decrease in telencephalic size with increased doses of cocaine. These treated larvae also showed a dose dependent response in heart rate that persisted 24 h after drug cessation. Embryonic cocaine exposure had little effect on overall health of longitudinal adults, but subtle changes in cardiovascular physiology were seen including decreased sensitivity to isoproterenol and increased sensitivity to cocaine. These longitudinal adult fish also showed an embryonic dose-dependent change in CPP behavior, suggesting an increased sensitivity. These studies clearly show that pre-exposure during embryonic development affects subsequent cocaine sensitivity in longitudinal adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Mersereau
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Cody A Boyle
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Shelby Poitra
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Ana Espinoza
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
| | - Joclyn Seiler
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Robert Longie
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Lisa Delvo
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Megan Szarkowski
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Joshua Maliske
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Sarah Chalmers
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Diane C Darland
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
| | - Tristan Darland
- Biology Department, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA.
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