Many psychoactive drugs have the potential for altering the development of the nervous system.
Assessment of the effects and mechanisms of perinatal exposure to substances on neurobehavioral development, neurotransmitters and growth factors using rodent and primary neuronal culture models is the principal goal of this laboratory. There are two main avenues of interest. The first is the mechanism by which perinatal exposure to opioids affects the development of central cholinergic neurons. This is particularly important, as methadone maintenance is an approved treatment for the pregnant opiate addict, and buprenorphine is currently under investigation for this purpose. A fetal solvent syndrome similar to fetal alcohol syndrome has been postulated to occur in the offspring of inhalant abusers.