CONVERGENT CONTROL OF SEROTONIN TRANSPORTER EXPRESSION BY GLUCOCORTICOIDS AND COCAINE IN FETAL AND NEONATAL RAT-BRAIN

Serotonin plays a trophic role in brain cell differentiation. In this study, expression of the serotonin presynaptic transporter protein, wh ich regulates the extracellular serotonin concentration, was measured with [H-3]paroxetine in rats exposed to dexamethasone or cocaine prena tally. Within 24 h of a single dose of dexamethasone, significant incr eases were seen in fetal brain, and the effect persisted into the post natal period. Chronic prenatal cocaine exposure elicited similar chang es. These data indicate that exposures to apparently disparate drugs c an elicit similar endpoints that may lead to behavioral teratogenesis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.