New Delhi: Could hormonal fluctuations explain why women are more prone to certain alcohol-related behaviours?
A study published in Nature Communications explores the connection between estrogen levels and alcohol consumption.
Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine discovered that rapid, non-genomic estrogen signalling in the brain directly influences binge-drinking behaviour in female mice, offering insights into potential gender-specific mechanisms of alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The research revealed that during phases of high estrogen levels in their oestrous cycle, female mice consumed more alcohol and exhibited reduced avoidance behaviour compared to low-estrogen phases.
These behaviours were linked to the activity of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain region that regulates stress and reward behaviours.
Estrogen was found to interact with membrane-associated estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in this brain region, promoting synaptic excitation and increased activity of CRF neurons during alcohol consumption.
Lead author Dr. Lia J. Zallar explained, "Our findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which estrogen regulates binge alcohol drinking, providing a critical link between ovarian hormones and addiction-related behaviours."
Senior author Dr. Kristen E. Pleil emphasized, "These results suggest a sex-specific, hormone-driven mechanism underlying alcohol use behaviours, which could inform future studies on AUD prevention and treatment."
Jean K. Rivera-Irizarry, another researcher on the team, added, "The use of a minimally invasive oestrous cycle tracking strategy allowed us to accurately measure real-time hormonal influences on behaviour, advancing our understanding of estrogen’s role in binge-drinking."
The findings offer a potential explanation for the "telescoping effect," where women tend to progress from casual drinking to alcohol dependence faster than men. This study highlights the importance of considering hormonal influences in developing personalized treatments for AUD, particularly in women.
While the research provides valuable insights into the biological mechanisms of alcohol consumption, the team stresses the need for further studies to translate these findings from animal models to human behaviour. Such advancements could pave the way for hormone-targeted therapies to address alcohol use disorders.