Chronic 'binge' pattern cocaine alters the neuroendocrine profile of pregnant rats

Pregnant Fischer rats injected with cocaine in a 'binge' pattern (3x15 mg/kg, i.p.) from gestational days 8 through 17, had significantly higher levels of progesterone (212.12+/-22.50 vs. 91. 99+/-15.41 ng/ml) and corticosterone (257.99+/-21.76 ng/ml vs. 31. 70+/-7.93, respectively) than saline-treated dams. No significant differences in prolactin were observed (2.36+/-0.17 vs. 2.17+/-0.19 ng rPrl132/ml). Correlation analysis indicated that there is a significant relationship between plasma levels of progesterone and corticosterone and the quality of nests built by the dams. No correlation was found within animals between prolactin plasma levels and the nest quality. Thus, cocaine's effect on progesterone and corticosterone may contribute to the series of behavioral alterations associated with cocaine exposure during pregnancy.