Why are women from Venus and men from Mars when they abuse cocaine?
Both preclinical and clinical studies have shown sexually dimorphic patterns in behavioral responses to cocaine in all phases of the cocaine addiction process (induction, maintenance, and relapse). Thus, a clear picture is emerging which suggests that the biological basis of sex-specific differences in cocaine addiction resides in the disparate regulation of the CNS by male and female gonadal hormones. This review discusses the role that gonadal hormones play in these sexually dimorphic patterns of behavioral responses to cocaine.
Quiñones-Jenab
Vanya
V
Department of Psychology, Hunter College and Graduate School, City University of New York, New York, NY 10021, USA. vanya.quinones@hunter.cuny.edu
D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones