Neurotoxicology and teratology
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Neurotoxicol Teratol · Sep 1991
The effect of prenatal cocaine exposure on umbilical cord length in fetal rats.
Umbilical cord length has been considered a reliable indicator of fetal movement. In this study, the effect of prenatal cocaine exposure on umbilical cord length was examined in rats. ⋯ Fetuses exposed to cocaine in utero had significantly shorter umbilical cords than intubated controls, although there were no differences in placental or fetal body weights. These data suggest that prenatal cocaine exposure suppresses fetal movement, which could contribute to some of the long-term effects observed in cocaine-exposed offspring.