Early-life forebrain glucocorticoid receptor overexpression increases anxiety behavior and cocaine sensitization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genetic factors and early-life adversity are critical in the etiology of mood disorders and substance abuse. Because of their role in the transduction of stress responses, glucocorticoid hormones and their receptors could serve as both genetic factors and mediators of environmental influences. We have shown that constitutive overexpression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in forebrain results in increased emotional reactivity and lability in mice. Here, we asked whether there was a critical period for the emergence of this phenotype.

Methods

We generated a mouse line with inducible GR overexpression specifically in forebrain. Anxiety-like behaviors and cocaine-induced sensitization were assessed in adult mice following GR overexpression during different periods

SUBMITTER: Wei Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3245807 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature