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Estrogen‐dependent alterations in D 2 /D 3 ‐induced G protein activation in cocaine‐sensitized female rats

2003; Wiley; Volume: 86; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.01858.x

1471-4159

Marcelo Febo, Loida González‐Rodríguez, David E. Capó‐Ramos, Naggai Y. González‐Segarra, Annabell C. Segarra,

Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Abstract Estrogen potentiates behavioral sensitization to cocaine in the female rat by mechanisms that remain undetermined. In this study, functional receptor autoradiography was used to investigate estrogen modulation of D 2 /D 3 receptor‐induced G protein activation in components of the reward pathway of female rats treated acutely and repeatedly with cocaine. Rats were ovariectomized and given an empty (OVX group) or estradiol benzoate‐filled (OVX‐EB group) implant. After a week, animals received a daily saline or cocaine injection (15 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 days, and again on day 13. Animals were killed, and brains were removed and cryosectioned. D 2 /D 3 ‐stimulated [ 35 S]guanosine 5′‐(γ‐thio) triphosphate (GTPγS) binding was assessed in the cingulate cortex area 2 (Cg2), striatum (STR), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). OVX‐EB rats showed more [ 35 S]GTPγS binding in the Cg2 and lower binding in the VTA than OVX rats; in the VTA this effect was reversed by a single cocaine injection. Repeated cocaine administration had opposite effects in OVX and OVX‐EB rats. [ 35 S]GTPγS binding was decreased in the Cg2, NAc and STR of OVX‐EB rats, and increased in OVX rats. The present results support the hypothesis that cocaine‐induced changes in D 2 /D 3 receptor activation are regulated by estrogen. These data suggest that changes in D 2 /D 3 receptor function represent one mechanism by which estrogen regulates behavioral sensitization to cocaine.