Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) attenuates cocaine-seeking behavior in the self-administration model in rats.
The aim of this study was to determine the possible involvement of the neurosteroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in cocaine-seeking behavior in a self-administration model in rats. DHEA pretreatment (continued thereafter concomitantly with cocaine self-administration) attenuated cocaine-seeking behavior and elevated the levels of dopamine and serotonin in several brain regions relevant to cocaine addiction. Chronic cocaine self-administration induced elevation in brain DHEA, its sulfate ester, DHEAS, and pregnenolone. The increased brain DHEA following cocaine self-administration may serve as a compensatory protective mechanism geared to attenuate the craving for cocaine. Such anti-craving activity is further enhanced by DHEA treatment before and during cocaine self-administration.
Maayan
Rachel
R
Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, Felsenstein Medical Research Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Lotan
Sharon
S
Doron
Ravid
R
Shabat-Simon
Maytal
M
Gispan-Herman
Iris
I
Weizman
Abraham
A
Yadid
Gal
G
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011284:Pregnenolone / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012201:Reward; D012646:Self Administration; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D011284:Pregnenolone; D004298:Dopamine