Cocaine self-administration differentially modulates the content of cholesterol, progesterone and testosterone in the brain and plasma of male rats.

Introduction: Chronic cocaine exposure results in changes in circulating steroid hormones, which is known to be associated with cocaine-seeking and taking behavior. However, whether cocaine also alters the brain content of these steroid hormones and cholesterol, a precursor to all steroid hormones, has yet to be extensively investigated. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine whether cocaine self-administration (SA) altered the content of cholesterol and steroid hormones (progesterone and testosterone) in both the plasma and the brain of animals.