Progestins influence motivation, reward, conditioning, stress, and/or response to drugs of abuse - PubMed (original) (raw)
Review
Progestins influence motivation, reward, conditioning, stress, and/or response to drugs of abuse
Cheryl A Frye. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2007 Feb.
Abstract
Progesterone (pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione; P) and its metabolite 5alpha-pregnan-3alpha-ol-20-one (3alpha,5alpha-THP) are secreted by ovaries, adrenals, and glial cells. 3alpha,5alpha-THP in the midbrain ventral tegmental area mediates sexual receptivity of rodents through its actions at GABA(A), NMDA, and/or D(1) receptors. The extent to which 3alpha,5alpha-THP may influence anti-anxiety/anti-stress effects, conditioning and/or reward through these substrates and/or by altering hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis function is discussed. Biosynthesis of 3alpha,5alpha-THP occurs in responses to mating and may underlie some of the rewarding aspects of sexual behavior. Recent findings from our laboratory which demonstrate that progestins can enhance approach to novel stimuli, conditioning, and reinforcement are reviewed. How progestins' effects on these processes may underlie response to drugs of abuse is considered and new findings which demonstrate interactions between progestins and cocaine are presented.
Figures
Fig. 1
The percentage difference in time spent on the male-associated side of the chamber for rats (_n_=2–4/grp) in proestrus (behavioral estrous; black bar) or estrous (diagonal striped bar) versus that of control diestrous rats for mating-induced conditioned place preference. Female rats in proestrus show a greater mating-induced conditioned place preference than do rats in estrus. * Indicates analyses of variance or _t_-tests reveal a significant difference (p<0.05) between groups.
Fig. 2
The percentage difference in time spent on the originally non-preferred side of the chamber (control) when ovx rats (_n_=8–12/grp) that had been administered progesterone (4 mg/kg, SC; black bar) versus vehicle (open bar) on training days were subsequently tested for side preference. * Indicates analyses of variance revealed a significant increase (p<0.05) in conditioned place preference for P compared to vehicle administered ovx rats. *p<0.05.
Fig. 3
The percentage difference in time spent on the conditioned floor of wildtype (WT; black bars) or PRKO (horizontal striped bars) mice (_n_=4–8/grp) that were administered P (10 mg/kg SC) paired with conditioning versus vehicle (sesame oil). P administration increases conditioned place preference in both WT and PRKO mice compared to vehicle control. * Indicates analyses of variance revealed a significant increase (<0.05) in conditioned place preference at test time for P administered mice compared to vehicle controls. *p<0.05.
Fig. 4
Plasma levels of corticosterone following behavior testing for ovx rats (_n_=4–8/grp) administered P (4 mg/kg, SC; black bars), 3α,5α-THP (4 mg/kg, SC; grey bars) or vehicle (sesame oil 0.2 cc; open bars). * Indicates analyses of variance revealed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in corticosterone levels for P or 3α,5α-THP-administered mice.
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