Journal Published Online: 01 September 2000
Volume 45, Issue 5

Regional Distribution of Cocaine in Postmortem Brain of Chronic Human Cocaine Users

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

We measured concentrations of cocaine and its major metabolites (benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methylester, norcocaine, and cocaethylene) in 15 autopsied brain regions of 14 human chronic cocaine users. Only slight differences were observed in concentrations of cocaine and its metabolites amongst the examined brain areas. Although it is likely that some postmortem redistribution of the drug must have occurred, our data are consistent with the possibility that behaviorally relevant doses of cocaine are widely distributed throughout the brain of humans who use the drug on a chronic basis. Consideration should therefore be given to the possible pharmacological and toxicological actions of cocaine in both striatal and extra-striatal brain areas in human users of the drug.

Author Information

Kalasinsky, KS
Division of Forensic Toxicology, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Division of Forensic Toxicology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC
Bosy, TZ
Division of Forensic Toxicology, Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, Division of Forensic Toxicology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC
Schmunk, GA
Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner, San Jose, CA and Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Ang, L
Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Adams, V
Office of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner, Tampa, FL
Gore, SB
Office of the Medical Examiner of District 9, Onando, FL
Smialek, J
University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Furukawa, Y
Human Neurochemical Pathology Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Clarke Division, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Guttman, M
Human Neurochemical Pathology Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Clarke Division, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kish, SJ
Human Neurochemical Pathology Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Clarke Division, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Pages: 8
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Stock #: JFS14828J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14828J