ABSTRACT
To the extent that animal models provide data relevant to humans, findings in animal work can be used to confirm and extend clinical studies, to anticipate other potential consequences of early cocaine exposure, and to offer insights into the mechanisms underlying observed behavioral alterations. Although cocaine is predominantly a dopamine (DA) uptake inhibitor, these neural alterations are evident not only in the DA system, but in other neural systems as well. Using a number of approaches, we have obtained evidence to suggest that DA functioning may be attenuated following prenatal cocaine exposure. Other behavioral alterations observed in these offspring include alterations in performance on tests of cognitive functioning, and in their behavioral responsivity to stress.
