The influence of chronic or acute DHEA exposure on β-endorphin levels in the nucleus accumbens.

Background: As cocaine dependence becomes highly prevalent among a diverse population, there is a need for innovative treatments that target both the physiological and behavioral aspects of addiction. We have previously published that Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a neurosteroid, reduces cocaine-seeking behavior and relapse for cocaine use. As drug addiction manifestation is affected by upregulation of β-endorphin levels in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc), which is vital for the brain's reward system and to the rewarding properties of drugs, the current study aims to determine the effects of DHEA on β-endorphin levels in the NAc and its implications for cocaine addiction treatment.