NORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF TYROSINE-HYDROXYLASE AND SEROTONIN-IMMUNOREACTIVE FIBERS INNERVATING ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX AND VISUAL-CORTEX IN RABBITS EXPOSED PRENATALLY TO COCAINE

Anterior cingulate cortex develops abnormally in rabbits exposed to co caine in utero but visual cortex is normal. The interactions of cocain e with the dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin systems makes each a potential candidate for influencing these developmental effects. Here , we report no differences in the distribution and density of serotoni n and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers in the anterior cingu late cortex in postnatal rabbits exposed prenatally to cocaine or sali ne. Because the pattern and extent of cortical innervation by these sy stems appears normal, the data suggest that the effects of prenatal ex posure to cocaine may involve changes in monoamine signaling distinct from morphological reorganization of the cortical afferents.