One of the most serious medical risks of cocaine abuse is stroke due to the drug’s disruption of blood flow in the brain. However, until now, neuroimaging techniques to study these effects on a small scale have not been available. The authors of this study developed a new, high-resolution imaging technique that was able to capture cocaine’s effects on even the smallest vessels (capillaries) in the brains of mice. Using this technique, they found that administration of cocaine at the doses normally taken by abusers caused constrictions in small vessels that interrupted cerebral blood flow for varying lengths of time. In some small vessels (arteriolar branches), the effect was exacerbated by repeated administrations of the drug and lasted over 45 minutes. It is likely that these interruptions in cerebral blood flow could underlie some of the serious neurological complications of cocaine abuse.
Molecular Psychiatry. 2011 Nov 29. doi: 10.1038/mp.2011.160. [Epub ahead of print] - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=22124273
Attention
Due to the lapse in government funding, the information on this web site may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the web site may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at
Looking for Treatment?
Use the SAMHSA Treatment Locator or 1-800-662-HELP.
Helpline open during government shutdown
Contact Press Office
301-443-6245 (8:30 - 5:30 ET)
media@nida.nih.gov
