Sex Differences in Progesterone Effects on Responses to Stress and Drug Cues

Cocaine dependence is a chronic, relapsing disorder in which stress/negative mood and exposure to drug-related stimuli or "cues" are associated with high rates of relapse (McKay et al., 1995; O'Brien et al., 1998; R. Sinha, 2001; Shaham et al., 2003). In particular, sex differences in relapse precipitants have been noted, with women reporting greater stress related relapses while men report higher number of relapses associated with drug cue/temptation situations (Lex, 1991; McKay et al., 1996; R. Sinha, 2001; R. Sinha, Rounsaville BJ, 2002). Current SCOR studies have shown that stress and cocaine cues increase drug craving and stress related arousal, responses that differ in cocaine men and women (R. Sinha et al., 2003; H.C. Fox et al., 2005a). Furthermore, stress-induced cocaine craving and HPA responses are predictive of cocaine relapse, which is also moderated by gender (R. Sinha et al., 2006). However, no previous research has examined the basis of sex differences in stress and cue induced craving and arousal, both of which are known to increase relapse susceptibility. Greater knowledge of the sex-specific neurobiology of cocaine dependence will facilitate development of gender-specific cocaine relapse prevention efforts.

Growing evidence supports a role for gonadal hormones in explaining the sex differences observed in stress responses as well as in the behavioral responses to cocaine (Festa & Quinones-Jenab, 2004; K. Carroll, Fenton LR, Ball SA, Nich C, Frankforter TL, Shi J, Rounsaville BJ, 2004; Lynch, 2006; Kajanti & Phillips, 2006). Estrogen increases behavioral responses to cocaine, while presence of progesterone decreases subjective and behavioral effects of cocaine, more so in females than males (Jackson et al., 2006; Sofuogu et al., 1999; M. Sofuoglu et al., 2002; Evans & Foltin, 2006). Stress and cocaine each enhance brain stress circuits, namely the corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF)-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and central noradrenergic/sympatho-adrenomedullary (SAM) pathways and both activate the mesolimbic dopaminergic systems involved in the rewarding effects of cocaine (ADD REFS). Exposure to Stress, cocaine or cocaine cues will each increase cocaine craving and HPA axis responses. Importantly, progesterone which affects behavioral responses to cocaine, also plays a key role in stress regulation. However, it is not known whether progesterone alters stress-induced and drug cue-induced craving and related stress arousal, markers that predict cocaine relapse outcomes. Our preliminary data suggest that women exposed to stress and to drug cues in the laboratory during the luteal phase (high progesterone) show lower stress induced and drug cue-induced craving, anxiety and cortisol responses compared to those in the late follicular phase (high estrogen) (see preliminary Studies section CX). On the basis of this previous research, we propose a double-blind placebo controlled study of to examine progesterone's effects on stress and cue-related responses in cocaine dependent men and women. We hypothesize that high dose of progesterone (200 mg bid) vs. placebo will alter stress-induced cocaine craving, negative affect, physiological and HPA responses to stress, and these changes will be greater in women than men.