Cocaine and cocaethylene binding to human placenta in vitro

Article Abstract:

Cocaine and a related compound called cocaethylene may accumulate in human placental tissue. Binding sites for cocaine and cocaethylene were analyzed after mixing these two compounds with human placental tissue samples. Sites having a strong attraction but unable to hold many units and sites having a weak attraction but able to hold many units were identified for each compound. There were more weakly attractive but high-capacity binding sites for cocaine and cocaethylene than strongly attractive but low-capacity sites. A significant percentage of the cocaine and cocaethlyene was bound to placenta cells.

Analysis, Binding sites (Biochemistry), Active sites (Biochemistry)

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Pregnancy enhances cocaine-induced stimulation of uterine contractions in the chronically instrumented rat

Article Abstract:

Cocaine may increase both the frequency and intensity of uterine contractions, especially in pregnancy. Researchers gave pregnant and nonpregnant rats intravenous cocaine and measured the effect on the uterus and blood pressure. Cocaine increased blood pressure comparably in both groups. However, pregnant rats experienced a marked increase in the frequency and strength of uterine contractions compared with the response in nonpregnant rats. This suggests that pregnancy heightens the sensitivity to the effects of cocaine within the muscle fibers of the uterus.

Uterus, Uterine contractions

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The disposition of cocaethylene in rat maternal, placental, and fetal compartments

Article Abstract:

The placenta appears to prevent cocaethylene from being transmitted to the fetus. Cocaethylene is a chemical produced when cocaine interacts with alcohol in the body. Many cocaine users also abuse alcohol. Researchers gave pregnant rats an intravenous infusion of cocaethylene and then measured the level of the chemical in various tissues, including the placenta, the amnion, and fetal and maternal blood samples. After a period of time, the chemical was no longer detected in blood samples but was detected in the placenta and the amnion.

Alcohol, Ethanol

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