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Scholarly Works (2 results)

  • Thesis
  • Peer Reviewed
UC Riverside Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2024)

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic relapsing neurophysiological disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking behavior and continued use in the face of severe consequences. Research into SUD has helped to better clarify its underlying mechanisms and development throughout the years, such as its relationship with dopamine signaling (Volkow and Morales, 2015). Despite extensive research shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of SUDs, particularly in cases like cocaine addiction, the quest for effective pharmacotherapies remains elusive. In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on exploring alternative therapeutic treatments for SUD. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of chronic aerobic exercise on cocaine evoked locomotor activity. We additionally assessed for possible disparities between males and females in this effect. To do this, we measured acute locomotion induced by cocaine before and after giving free 24 hr/day access to locked or unlocked running wheels for an extended period. In this present study, our findings indicated that chronic aerobic exercise provided protection against locomotor inducing effects of cocaine, but the effect was exclusive to females. In addition, we found that even after taking away home cage wheels for over a week, female mice with prior exercise experience continued to demonstrate significant reductions in cocaine evoked locomotion

    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    UC Riverside Previously Published Works (2022)
    A widely held dogma in the preclinical addiction field is that females are more vulnerable than males to drug craving and relapse. Here, we first review clinical studies on sex differences in psychostimulant and opioid craving and relapse. Next, we review preclinical studies on sex differences in psychostimulant and opioid reinstatement of drug seeking after extinction of drug self-administration, and incubation of drug craving (time-dependent increase in drug seeking during abstinence). We also discuss ovarian hormones role in relapse and craving in humans and animal models and speculate on brain mechanisms underlying their role in cocaine craving and relapse in rodent models. Finally, we discuss imaging studies on brain responses to cocaine cues and stress in men and women.The results of the clinical studies reviewed do not appear to support the notion that women are more vulnerable to psychostimulant and opioid craving and relapse. However, this conclusion is tentative because most of the studies reviewed were correlational, not sufficiently powered, and not a priori designed to detect sex differences. Additionally, imaging studies suggest sex differences in brain responses to cocaine cues and stress. The results of the preclinical studies reviewed provide evidence for sex differences in stress-induced reinstatement and incubation of cocaine craving but not cue- or cocaine-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking. These sex differences are modulated in part by ovarian hormones. In contrast, the available data do not support the notion of sex differences in craving and relapse/reinstatement for methamphetamine or opioids in rodent models. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This systematic review summarizes clinical and preclinical studies on sex differences in psychostimulant and opioid craving and relapse. Results of the clinical studies reviewed do not appear to support the notion that women are more vulnerable to psychostimulant and opioid craving and relapse. Results of preclinical studies reviewed provide evidence for sex differences in reinstatement and incubation of cocaine seeking but not for reinstatement or incubation of methamphetamine or opioid seeking.
      Cover page: Sex Differences in Opioid and Psychostimulant Craving and Relapse: A Critical Review.
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