Effects of cocaine on dietary self-selection during pregnancy and lactation in the rat

Previously, we have shown that patterns of food selection are altered by pregnancy and lactation in rats. Reproductive animals increase total food intake during gestation and lactation, and select more carbohydrate and protein during lactation than virginal controls. In other self-selection studies, female rats administered cocaine compensate for decreases in carbohydrate and fat but not protein intake, resulting in a potential protein deficiency. The present study was designed to test the combined effects of cocaine and reproductive period on food intake. Cocaine was administered daily (PO) to 18-h food-deprived rats during the second and third week of gestation and the first week of lactation. Immediately following drug administration, each animal had free access to isocaloric carbohydrate, protein, and fat in a dietary self-selection situation. Intake of each component was measured at 30 min, 60 min, 2 h, and 6 h following the drug treatment. The results of this study indicate that cocaine administration during gestation and lactation disrupts normal patterns of food intake. Altered patterns of food intake may be responsible for some of the deleterious effects of maternal cocaine use on offspring.