COCAINE INHIBITS HCG SECRETION BY THE HUMAN TERM PLACENTAL COTYLEDON PERFUSED IN-VITRO

Cocaine has been shown to adversely affect pregnancy outcome in humans , but the mechanism(s) are not well understood. Using the technique of perfusing the human term placental cotyledon in vitro, we measured th e rate of hCG appearance in the maternal circulation in the presence a nd absence of cocaine in the maternal circulation. At a dose of 0.80 m u g/mL, hCG secretion was reduced by 46%. This reduction in hCG concen tration in the maternal circulation may effect normal steroidogenesis required to maintain pregnancy and may contribute to our understanding of the reproductive toxicology of cocaine.