In utero exposure to cocaine results in neurobehavioral abnormalities
in both clinical and laboratory studies. Cocaine administration from e
mbryonic day 13 to parturition disrupts the distribution of S-100-posi
tive astrocytes in the hippocampus and subplate region of the cortex i
n cocaine-exposed animals. Postnatal treatment with ipsapirone, a 5-HT
1A agonist, shown to stimulate glial release of S-100, alleviated the
cellular disruptions and growth retardation caused by prenatal cocaine
exposure.