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Home NEWS Science News Health

Psychology research: Women more sensitive to cocaine

Bioengineer by Bioengineer
January 29, 2024
in Health
Reading Time: 4 mins read
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Previous studies focused on cocaine use have found that women are more likely than men to develop an addiction, try cocaine at a younger age, use larger amounts of the drug, and suffer from overdose.

Linda Perrotti, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at UTA and senior author of the study

Credit: Photo courtesy The University of Texas at Arlington

Previous studies focused on cocaine use have found that women are more likely than men to develop an addiction, try cocaine at a younger age, use larger amounts of the drug, and suffer from overdose.

Now, a new study from researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington in the journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior finally validates what scientists have long suspected: The female sex hormone estradiol (a synthetic version of the naturally occurring estrogen) is responsible for why women are more susceptible to cocaine addiction than men.

“For the first time, we have shown that estradiol enhances the cocaine-conditioned reward,” said Linda Perrotti, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at UTA and senior author of the study. “Our research fills a significant gap in the knowledge of drug addiction, and it provides a crucial link to understanding how fluctuating hormone levels can cause females to be more sensitive to the rewarding effects of cocaine.”

Co-authors include UTA student researchers Ross J. Armant, Blake N. Brady, Houda H. Chamseddine, Adam C. Hoch and Saubabh Kokane, and research technicians Brandon D. Butler, Clinton S. Coelho and Josimar Hernandez Antonio.

Using a well-established research technique called conditioned-place preference, researchers found higher levels of sensitivity among females that fluctuated depending on where they were in their reproductive cycles.

“In particular, we have now demonstrated that females have a higher sensitivity to the acute rewarding effects of cocaine in relation to where they were in their cycle,” Perrotti said. “This research gives us a new understanding of how the brain reacts to cocaine, providing invaluable information on cocaine use and dependence in humans.”

***

The National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health supported this research.

Previous studies focused on cocaine use have found that women are more likely than men to develop an addiction, try cocaine at a younger age, use larger amounts of the drug, and suffer from overdose.

 

Now, a new study from researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington in the journal Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior finally validates what scientists have long suspected: The female sex hormone estradiol (a synthetic version of the naturally occurring estrogen) is responsible for why women are more susceptible to cocaine addiction than men.

“For the first time, we have shown that estradiol enhances the cocaine-conditioned reward,” said Linda Perrotti, professor and chair of the Department of Psychology at UTA and senior author of the study. “Our research fills a significant gap in the knowledge of drug addiction, and it provides a crucial link to understanding how fluctuating hormone levels can cause females to be more sensitive to the rewarding effects of cocaine.”

Co-authors include UTA student researchers Ross J. Armant, Blake N. Brady, Houda H. Chamseddine, Adam C. Hoch and Saubabh Kokane, and research technicians Brandon D. Butler, Clinton S. Coelho and Josimar Hernandez Antonio.

Using a well-established research technique called conditioned-place preference, researchers found higher levels of sensitivity among females that fluctuated depending on where they were in their reproductive cycles.

“In particular, we have now demonstrated that females have a higher sensitivity to the acute rewarding effects of cocaine in relation to where they were in their cycle,” Perrotti said. “This research gives us a new understanding of how the brain reacts to cocaine, providing invaluable information on cocaine use and dependence in humans.”

***

The National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health supported this research.



Journal

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

DOI

10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173653

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Interactions between estradiol and ERK, but not mTOR, signaling is necessary for enhanced cocaine-induced conditioned place preference in female rats

Article Publication Date

1-Nov-2023

COI Statement

The authors certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under award number R15DA040809.

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