DEVELOPMENTAL IMMUNOTOXICITY OF COCAINE AND ETHANOL IN POSTNATAL LEWIS RATS

The immunomodulatory effect of cocaine (COC), ethanol (EtOH) and their combination was investigated in the developing immune system of postn atal Lewis rats. To simulate the route of exposure during lactation, n ewborn rats were orally treated with either saline, 20 mg COC/kg, and 0.6 g EtOH/kg or the coadministration of COC and EtOH from day 1 to 21 of life. Rat pups were sacrificed thirty minutes following the last t reatment. Total lymphocytes and spleen/body weight ratios were decreas ed in animals exposed to COC. These immunotoxic effects were not enhan ced by the coadministration of EtOH. However, pups exposed to both dru gs had significantly decreased levels of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) when compared to saline-treated rats. Plasma and tissue distribution s tudies revealed that the combination treatment group had a higher COC content in the brain and spleen as well as an increase in the metaboli tes benzoylecognine (BE) and norcocaine (NC) in the spleen. Ethylcocai ne (EC) formation was not demonstrated in this model.