effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on social and interactive behaviors in the developing rat

Prenatal exposure to cocaine has been associated with a variety of deleterious effects on human infants. In this study, several measures were examined using the rat as a model of the clinical effects found in children of cocaine-abusing mothers. Infant rats exposed to 40 mg/kg during gestation via injections to their dam do not differ from nutritional and saline controls on such measures as body weight, age of eye opening, latency to attach to a nipple, and preference for a home odor. However, cocaine exposed pups show significantly suppressed levels of play and are more submissive in a play encounter than control pups. The data are discussed in terms of how deficits in play behavior may put the young at a cognitive and social disadvantage.