ABSTRACT
Cross-fostering studies suggest cocaine-induced deficits in maternal behavior could be associated with altered behavior of offspring following prenatal cocaine-exposure. Neonatal vocalizations are an important offspring cue facilitating early interactions between dam and rodent pup offspring and have been shown to be altered following prenatal cocaine-exposure. It is unclear how variations in acoustic parameters of USVs impact maternal behavior and the mechanism(s) underlying these processes. The present study examined differences in cocaine-exposed and control rodent dam maternal preference of cocaine-exposed or untreated pups in a dual choice apparatus. Relationship of preference-like behavior with pup USVs and dam oxytocin expression was explored. Gestational cocaine-exposure interfered with preference-like behavior of dams on postpartum day 1 with cocaine-exposure associated with decreased time spent on the cocaine-exposed pup side compared to the control pup side, and decreases in preference-like behavior associated in part with decreased number of USVs being emitted by cocaine-exposed pups. On postpartum day 5, decreased oxytocin expression in the medial preoptic area was associated with altered preference-like behavior in cocaine-exposed dams, including frequency and latency to touch/sniff pups. Results indicate cocaine's effects on the mother-infant relationship is likely synergistic, in that cocaine influences mother and offspring both independently and concertedly and that variations within pup vocalizations and the oxytocin system may be potential mechanism(s) underlying this synergistic relationship during the postpartum period.
Subject(s)
Cocaine/toxicity , Cues , Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors/toxicity , Maternal Behavior/drug effects , Oxytocin/metabolism , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects , Preoptic Area/metabolism , Age Factors , Analysis of Variance , Animals , Animals, Newborn , Female , Gestational Age , Postpartum Period/drug effects , Pregnancy , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/chemically induced , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/metabolism , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/pathology , Preoptic Area/drug effects , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Vocalization, Animal/drug effectsABSTRACT
Periodic preventive screening programs will require patient cooperation if they are to be successful. To determine the level of patient interest on a broad scale, 1,788 adult patients were surveyed in 47 family physicians' offices over a statewide area. Seventy percent said they had participated in a screening health checkup in the preceding two years. Nine percent of these patients reported discovering a previously unknown condition as a result of their recent screening examination. The majority of surveyed patients said they would agree to be screened or treated with the complete list of eight suggested procedures for men and ten procedures for women. Rates of patient acceptance of specific health maintenance recommendations ranged from a low of 54 percent for influenza immunization to a high of 91 percent for a blood pressure check. Listing typical costs did not alter the selection rates of patients with insurance coverage compared with those without it. The geriatric age group was the least willing to be screened. Seventy-two percent of patients indicated that they wanted to discuss at least one wellness topic with their physician. Overall, most patients are willing to participate in the concept of a periodic health maintenance examination as recommended to them by their physician.
