COCAINE SELECTIVELY ALTERS NEUROTRANSMITTER RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RNAS IN MOUSE EMBRYOS

Alterations in gene expression due to in utero cocaine exposure may ad versely affect nervous system development. The present study examined whether or not cocaine administration to pregnant mice alters embryoni c mRNA levels for several developmentally-regulated genes. Antisense R NA amplification was performed using RNA from LM/Bc embryos at gestati onal days 9.5 and 10.5 after three days of cocaine treatment. This tec hnique highlights simultaneous changes that occur in the expression of many genes after a teratogenic insult. Significant changes occurred i n the expression pattern of only four genes from a total of 42 candida te cDNAs. These included increases in the relative levels of the alpha and beta 1 submits of the GABA(A) receptor without concurrent changes in the non-NMDA glutamate receptor subunits. The results support the hypothesis that in utero cocaine exposure leads to specific changes in gene expression that may ultimately contribute to developmental abnor malities.