Role of the estrous cycle and nucleus accumbens signaling on incubation of oxycodone craving in female rats

摘要 中脑边缘区域，包括伏隔核(NAC)，介导了 食物、性爱和药物奖励，以及与之配对的线索。众所周知， 卵巢激素影响动机(Yoest等人，2014)，并有效地调节NAC功能和 可塑性(Cyr等人，2001；Le Saux等人，2006；Peterson等人，2015)。此外，谷氨酸能 NAC中的传递对于动机行为的启动是必不可少的。对新来港儿童的监管 卵巢激素的谷氨酸能突触可塑性被认为是动机反应的基础 食品和药物奖励(Becker和Hu，2008；Sclair等人，2017)。然而，这些机制 卵巢激素对NAC功能和动机的调节作用很差 明白了。因此，拟议研究的目标是将行为、生化和 了解卵巢激素如何影响动机和NAC的电生理方法 功能。这些研究不仅将提供更好的了解卵巢激素在 激励和NAC的作用，但他们也会为我的独立提供培训和准备 研究生涯。

Abstract Mesolimbic regions, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc) mediate the motivational properties of food, sex, and drug rewards, as well as cues that are paired with them. It is well established that ovarian hormones influence motivation (Yoest et al., 2014) and potently regulate NAc function and plasticity (Cyr et al., 2001; Le Saux et al., 2006; Peterson et al., 2015). In addition, glutamatergic transmission in the NAc is essential for the initiation of motivated behaviors. The regulation of NAc glutamatergic synaptic plasticity by ovarian hormones is proposed to underlie motivational responses to food and drug rewards (Becker and Hu, 2008; Sinclair et al., 2017). However, the mechanisms underlying the modulatory role of ovarian hormones on NAc function and motivation are poorly understood. Thus, the goal of the proposed studies is to combine behavioral, biochemical and electrophysiological approaches to understand how ovarian hormones influence motivation and NAc function. These studies will not only provide a better understanding of the role of ovarian hormones in motivation and NAc function, but they will also provide training and preparation for my independent research career.