EFFECT OF COCAINE ON MACROMOLECULAR SYNTHESES AND CELL-PROLIFERATION IN CULTURED GLIAL-CELLS

In the present study the effect of cocaine on thymidine, uridine and l eucine incorporation was assessed in primary cortical glial and C6 gli oma cells. Cocaine exposure for 24 h inhibited thymidine and uridine i ncorporation in cortical glial and C6 glioma cells. However, the effec t of cocaine on uridine incorporation was less prominent compared to t hymidine incorporation. High concentrations of cocaine inhibited leuci ne incorporation in C6 glioma cells but not in cortical glia. Cocaine exposure for four days decreased cell proliferation of cortical glial and C6 glioma cells. Cocaine-induced attenuation of macromolecular syn theses was not due to cell death since cocaine-treated cells were not stained with Trypan Blue and did not release lactate dehydrogenase int o culture supernatants. Furthermore, cocaine had no effect on glutamat e uptake either in cortical glia or in C6 glioma cells. These results indicate that cocaine inhibits macromolecular syntheses in glial cells . The inhibition of macromolecular syntheses in glial cells may be the mechanism involved in cocaine-induced fetal brain growth retardation.