Lack of Effect of Fetal Administration of Cocaine on Maternal and Fetal Plasma Adrenocorticotropin, Cortisol and Lactate Concentrations at 127–138 Days Gestational Age

Abstract

Few in vivo studies have attempted to characterize the effects of cocaine on the maternal and fetal pituitary-adrenal axis during pregnancy. We, therefore, administered cocaine (2 mg·kg^-1) intravenously to 6 fetal sheep at 127–138 days of gestation. There was a transient reduction in fetal arterial pO₂ with a concomitant increase in pCO₂ and a prolonged fall in pH (p < 0.05) following cocaine injection. No changes were seen in maternal pO₂ pCO₂ or pH. Maternal plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol and lactate were not affected by fetal administration of cocaine. Although there was a tendency for fetal plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol and lactate to rise after administering cocaine, the increases were not statistically significant. Previous studies have shown that cocaine administration to the ewe at a similar stage of pregnancy results in increased fetal plasma adrenocorticotropin concentrations. The results of the present study indicate that cocaine administration to the fetus compromises fetal gas exchange and acid base balance, but the effects on the fetal pituitary-adrenal axis are less pronounced than after maternal administration of cocaine.

Serum Cortisol Levels in Very Low Birth Weight Infants of Substance-Abusing Mothers

“…3 However, direct cocaine injection to fetal lambs affected serum ACTH and cortisol levels to a lesser degree. 16 It seems that maternal and/or placental factors may have roles in the effect of cocaine on fetal serum cortisol levels. Maternal cocaine abuse may have longterm effects on adrenal function of newborns.…”