Effects of intravenous cocaine on reproductive function in the mated rabbit.

A dramatic increase in the use of crack cocaine by young women has resulted in the exposure of a substantial number of fetuses to the drug in utero. The goal of these experiments was to investigate the effects of intravenous cocaine (a model for crack) on reproductive function in the female rabbit. We used two protocols: (1) single daily injections over the course of pregnancy ("single daily" protocol), with animals examined on day 1, 8, 15, 22, or 29, and (2) six hourly injections on the day of mating ("binge" protocol). The maximum tolerated dose of cocaine, 4 mg/kg, was administered at 0.5 ml/min. The single daily protocol increased ovulation but had no effect on fetal and placental weights or preterm delivery. The binge protocol significantly reduced in vitro development of retrieved embryos but did not affect implantation assessed on day 8 of pregnancy.