EFFECT OF COCAINE ADMINISTRATION ON CONCANAVALIN A-STIMULATED T-LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION IN RATS

There is a high prevalence of cocaine abuse among Americans. There is an increasing concern over the rise of infectious diseases among indiv iduals in this drug abuse population. This concern may be due, at leas t in part, to a direct effect of cocaine on the immune system. The pre sent study investigated the effects of cocaine administration on optim al mitogen-induced proliferation in rats. Following cocaine administra tion, splenic lymphocytes were isolated and T-lymphocytes incubated wi th concanavalin A. When T-lymphocytes were isolated 30 minutes followi ng cocaine administration, a significant enhancement of optimal mitoge n-stimulated proliferation was observed at 0.1 mg/Kg cocaine. Enhancem ent of proliferation was seen 20 hours following cocaine administratio n at 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg/Kg. However, these results were not statistica lly significant. Cocaine administered once daily for seven days had no effect on mitogen-induced proliferation. These results suggest that c ocaine administration has a limited effect on optimal mitogen-stimulat ed proliferation.