Cocaine impairs maternal nest building in pregnant rats

The present study investigated the onset of maternal nest building in pregnant Fischer rats following chronic repeated cocaine administration. Pregnant Fischer rats were injected with saline or cocaine, 15 mg/kg, three times daily at 1-h intervals for 10 days starting on gestation day 8. Cocaine-exposed females incorporated less material into their nests and built fewer fully completed circular nests than control animals. The overall quality of the nest in cocaine exposed dams was significantly lower than that of control animals. Furthermore, cocaine exposed dams gained less weight than control females. However, no difference in number of pups, weight, or length of pups was observed between groups. Thus, it seems that cocaine disrupts the interest and skill in nest building of pregnant rats.