Prenatal cocaine exposure in the laboratory mouse: effects on maternal water consumption and offspring outcome.

Pregnant mice were given 50 mg/kg cocaine HCl (1% solution, sc) once daily from gestation days 7 through 18 (sperm positive = day 0; term = day 19). Pair-fed and untreated control groups were also used. The pregnant cocaine-treated females showed normal weight gain and food consumption but had significantly increased water consumption. The cocaine-treated group had a significant increase in embryonic resorptions but no significant effects on stillbirths or postnatal mortality. The offspring of cocaine-treated females had significantly reduced birth weights and postnatal weight gains up to the age of 28 days. There was also a delay in their ear opening but not in other maturational milestones. Increased water consumption following cocaine treatment has been reported by other studies. We speculate that cocaine has a diuretic effect. We discuss the implications of this effect during pregnancy.