Sex differences in nucleus accumbens circuitry engaged with binge-like ethanol drinking.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Women tend to progress from initial alcohol use to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) more quickly than men, highlighting the need to study sex differences in models of early-stage alcohol use. In humans and rodents, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) regulates alcohol binge drinking, a risk factor for developing AUD. However, it is unknown whether similar brain regions and NAc inputs are engaged in males and females during binge-like drinking.

Methods

We labeled NAc inputs with a viral retrograde tracer (GFP) and quantified whole-brain c-Fos to determine the regions and NAc inputs differentially engaged in male and female mice during binge-like drinking. Mice underwent a 4-day Drinking-in-the-Dark task for either ethanol or water. Immediately following drinking on day 4, periorb

SUBMITTER: Chan AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12406942 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature