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Lack of Effect of Maternal Cocaine Administration on Myometrial Electromyogram and Maternal Plasma Oxytocin Concentrations in Pregnant Sheep at 124-146 Days' Gestational Age

From the Lnboratory for Pregnancy and Neivborn Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Abstract

Although cocaine abuse during human pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of preterm labor, there are few reports on the effects of cocaine on myometrial activity during pregnancy in experimental animals. Cocaine (0.5,1, or 2 mg/kg) or vehicle was randomly administered intravenously to 15 pregnant ewes between 124-146 days' gestation (term is 147 days). Neither cocaine nor vehicle administration altered total myometrial electromyographic activity from pre-dose levels 1 or 6 hours after administration. Maternal arterial plasma oxytocin did not change during the study. Using a positive control, we confirmed observations of other investigators that administration of 2 mg/kg cocaine significantly increases maternal arterial blood pressure. The results indicate that cocaine does not stimulate myometrial contractility significantly in late pregnancy in sheep.