RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Effects of Cocaine on Basal and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Stimulated Ovarian Steroid Hormones in Female Rhesus Monkeys JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 1137 OP 1145 VO 294 IS 3 A1 Nancy K. Mello A1 Jack H. Mendelson A1 Maureen Kelly A1 Carrie A. Bowen YR 2000 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/294/3/1137.abstract AB Cocaine stimulates gonadotropin (luteinizing hormone) release from the anterior pituitary in humans and in rhesus monkeys, but its acute effects on ovarian steroid hormones are unknown. The acute effects of cocaine and placebo on estradiol and progesterone were studied in 13 drug-naive female rhesus monkeys during the mid-follicular (days 8–10) and the mid-luteal (days 21–23) phases of the menstrual cycle. Each monkey was her own control under cocaine and placebo conditions. Samples for ovarian steroid hormone analysis were collected before and at 15-min intervals for 300 min after cocaine or placebo administration. In follicular phase females, estradiol levels increased significantly within 15 min after cocaine (0.8 mg/kg i.v.) administration (P < .008) but did not change after placebo administration. Estradiol remained significantly above baseline for 45 min (P < .002–0.02). In contrast, in mid-luteal phase females, estradiol did not change after cocaine or placebo administration. Basal progesterone levels did not change after cocaine or placebo administration in either mid-follicular or mid-luteal phase females. After hCG (500 I.U. i.m.) was administered to mid-luteal phase females, cocaine (0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg i.v.) and placebo administration did not increase or decrease estradiol or progesterone. One implication of these findings is that cocaine-induced increases in follicular phase estradiol levels could disrupt folliculogenesis and contribute to the menstrual cycle abnormalities observed during chronic cocaine self-administration. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics