Activation of G protein-coupled estradiol receptor 1 in the dorsolateral striatum enhances motivation for cocaine and drug-induced reinstatement in female but not male rats.

Background: Estradiol potentiates drug-taking behaviors, including motivation to self-administer cocaine and reinstatement of drug-seeking after extinction in females, but not males. The dorsolateral stratum (DLS) is a region of the brain implicated in mediating drug-seeking behaviors and, more specifically, is a target brain area to study how estradiol regulates these behaviors. The estradiol receptors α, β, and G protein-coupled estradiol receptor 1 (GPER1) are all present in the DLS.

Sex differences in vulnerability to addiction.

This article reviews evidence for sex differences in vulnerability to addiction with an emphasis on the neural mechanisms underlying these differences. Sex differences in the way that the gonadal hormone, estradiol, interacts with the ascending telencephalic dopamine system results in sex differences in motivated behaviors, including drug-seeking. In rodents, repeated psychostimulant exposure enhances incentive sensitization to a greater extent in females than males.