Effects of Benzoylecgonine on the Behavior of Suckling Rats: A Preliminary Report

A major metabolite of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, causes behavioral activation that progresses to seizures when given intraventricularly to 2-week-old rats. The seizures are characterized by running, hopping, and vocalizing and are mixed with shorter-duration tonic episodes. Pretreatment with haloperidol, at a dose aimed at blocking stereotyped behavior, did not suppress these behaviors. In contrast, seizures were prevented by antiepileptic drugs, with the order of potency being diazepam > phenobarbital > phenytoin. We hypothesize that the long-lasting cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine, contributes to the infant cocaine intoxication syndrome. (J Child Neurol 1992;7:87-92).