Estradiol promotes relapse susceptibility.

Dr. Doncheck previously demonstrated that the primary estrogen, 17beta-estradiol, can promote relapse to cocaine seeking in response to ordinarily weak triggers. These effects involved suppression of inhibition of prelimbic cortex projection neurons, suggesting estradiol acts by rendering relapse-driving projections more excitable in response to relapse stimuli. Estradiol was found to act through steroid and endocannabinoid receptor signaling.

Now, the lab aims to uncover the precise neuronal activity dynamics by which estradiol affects prefrontal cortex activity to enhance relapse susceptibility. These studies will also determine whether estradiol uniquely promotes relapse to psychostimulant-seeking, or if its effects can be generalized to opioids. Moreover, despite how males do not experience the same systemic, cyclical surges in estradiol, these studies will dissect whether estradiol impacts prefrontal cortex activity and drug seeking similarly between the sexes.