title: Estrous cycle and HIV-1 Tat protein influence cocaine-conditioned place preference and induced locomotion of female mice.
abstract: The HIV-1 trans-activator of transcription (Tat) protein, interacts with psychostimulants to potentiate cocaine-reward in rodents. Sex steroids may protect against Tat-induced deficits. Female GT-tg transgenic mice conditionally-expressed Tat protein targeted to brain via a doxycycline-dependent, GFAP-linked promoter. Mice were tested for cocaine-conditioned place preference (CPP) and cocaine-induced locomotion when in the proestrous (high-hormone) or diestrous (low-hormone) phases of their estrous cycle. Cocaine-CPP was potentiated by Tat induction via 50, 100, or 125 (but not 25) mg/kg doxycycline daily treatment for 7 days. Diestrous mice exposed to Tat protein demonstrated significantly greater cocaine-CPP than did proestrous mice. Tat induction interacted with estrous cycle to decrease acute cocaine-induced locomotion among Tat-induced diestrous mice, but not their uninduced or proestrous counterparts, and attenuated cocaine-sensitization. In a cocaine-challenge, previously cocaine-sensitized mice demonstrated greater cocaine-locomotion over cocaine-naive counterparts and Tat-induction attenuated locomotion. Altogether, data demonstrate Tat and circulating sex steroid influences over cocaine-reward and psychostimulation.
authors.forename: Jason J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.affiliation: Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34987, USA. paris.j@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jay P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000378:metabolism*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009294:Narcotics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D003042:Cocaine