Estrogen Underlying Increased Female Vulnerability to Addiction

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In comparison to men, women are at an increased risk to abuse drugs. Across the spectrum of addiction, women show heightened intake of addictive substances, with greater craving, leading to an increased likelihood of addiction and relapse. These responses peak during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle when estrogen levels are at their highest. These findings have been recapitulated in the female laboratory rat, where estradiol heightens multiple measures of drug responsiveness and abuse. Remarkably, the mechanisms by which estradiol mediates enhanced vulnerability to drug addiction are completely unknown. We propose a novel molecular mechanism mediating the actions of estradiol on nucleus accumbens neurons. Specifically we hypothesize that estradiol stimulation of estrogen receptor ? (ER?) localized to the surface membrane of nucleus accumbens neurons activates metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) signaling. Activation of ER?/mGluR5 signaling by estradiol, in turn, affects nucleus accumbens spine structure, nucleus accumbens glutamatergic neurotransmission and ultimately responsiveness to drugs of abuse. Collectively, these studies will provide a foundation for developing novel therapeutic approaches targeted to treating drug addiction in women.