The purpose of this book is to review the basic science and clinical findings concerning maternal substance abuse and the developing nervous system of unborn children. The short-term but vitally significant repercussions of such exposure on biological development, with particular reference to the nervous system, are discussed. The book also discusses the profound influence of maternal substance abuse on behavior in adulthood, which is caused by subtle changes in the chemistry or structure of the developing nervous system. The subject will not only be of interest to clinical and basic science researchers and teachers in the field of maternal substance abuse, but also to individuals in psychology, social work, cellular and molecular biolgoy, embryology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and in clinical professions such as pediatrics, neonatology, and obstetrics. The breadth of topics covered includes alcohol, cocaine, opiates, nicotine, benzodiazepines, marijuana, and the role of stress and hormones. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of the effects of substance abuse on neurotrophic factors and receptors.
Key Features
* Shows how abused substances act directly or indirectly to mimic or influence the action of neurotrophic factors
* Explains that the transient expression of peptides, neurotransmitters, and receptors can be markedly disturbed by drugs
* Demonstrates that animal and tissue culture studies are consistent with clinical observations and important in understanding and ameliorating adverse actions of drugs in early life

Receptors for cell hormones, growth factors, Fourth, alterations in the development of neu and neurotransmitters are involved in the ral receptors may have profound implications control and modulation of an enormous array for the structure and function of the of biological processes. The development of organism. As much as possible, the reper these receptors has distinct spatial and tem cussions of disrupting the orchestration of poral arrangements, and alterations in this receptor development in the nervous system pattern during embryogenesis can have signi are discussed. In many instances, however, ficant consequences for the well-being of the we are just beginning to learn about some fetus, infant, child and adult. The developing receptors and the authors may not be in a nervous system is particularly dependent on position to discuss the consequences of recep receptors because its period of structural and tor dysfunction. functional organization extends through both In designing these two volumes, we have prenatal and postnatal phases. Moreover, asked major figures in each field to review the receptors are a key element in neural com literature, to apprise the audience of their munication in both the developing and adult latest findings, and to provide a perspective on organism, so that the ontogeny of receptors is the role of receptors in the developing nervous crucial in determining the myriad connections system. These books are intended to sum forming the circuitry of the nervous system."