Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Responsiveness to Methamphetamine is Modulated by Gonadectomy in Males.

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Responsiveness to Methamphetamine is Modulated by Gonadectomy in Males. Brain Res. 2017 Sep 20;: Authors: Jacobskind JS, Rosinger ZJ, Zuloaga DG Abstract Sex differences in patterns of methamphetamine (MA) abuse have been reported with females (humans and rodents) showing an elevated addiction phenotype. Previous findings indicate MA-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation is also sexually dimorphic with females exhibiting an elevated glucocorticoid release and differential neural activation patterns within HPA axis-associated brain regions. These effects may contribute to sex differences in abuse. To determine the role of gonadal hormones in mediating sex differences in MA-induced glucocorticoids, male and female C57BL/6J mice were gonadectomized or sham-operated, and following recovery, injected with MA (5 mg/kg) and sacrificed 60 minutes or 120 minutes later. Blood was collected for corticosterone radioimmunoassay, and brains were used to assess c-Fos, and c-Fos co-localization with glucocorticoid receptor (GR). At 120 minutes after MA injection, corticosterone levels were elevated in females compared to males and gonadectomy in males increased corticosterone to female levels. C-Fos was greater in females than males in the medial preoptic area, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, basolateral amygdala, and central amygdala. Female gonadectomy had little effect on either cort...
Source: Brain Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Brain Res Source Type: research