[Pharmacological modifications of neuroendocrine ontogenesis. Development of receptors, nicotine and catecholamines].

The prenatal ontogeny of several receptor sites is reviewed. Binding sites for nicotine are found in fetal rat brain from gestational day 14; their regional development is described. Prenatal nicotine exposure interferes with the organization of the gonadal axis of the male rat fetus and is followed by permanent alterations in catecholamine metabolite levels. Cannabis, ethanol, barbiturates and opiates are also capable of disturbing the sexual differentiation of the central nervous system. These observations indicate that interactions with the ontogeny of neuroendocrine systems represent an important pathogenetic mechanism through which drugs can affect brain development. Recent observations on receptor development in the human fetus suggest the existence of a comparable sensitive period.