How progesterone and the brain hormone allopregnanolone affect prefrontal brain activity and heroin relapse
Progesterone and allopregnanolone of prefrontal cortical activity dynamics and heroin seeking
This work looks at how progesterone and a related brain chemical called allopregnanolone change prefrontal brain activity linked to heroin-seeking in people with opioid addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11405303 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use mice trained to self-administer heroin while recording live brain activity with high-resolution imaging to see how prefrontal cortex patterns change during learning, quitting, and relapse. They combine advanced computational analysis with single-cell optogenetics to identify and then test specific groups of prefrontal neurons that control drug-seeking behavior. The project focuses on how progesterone and its metabolite allopregnanolone alter those neural activity patterns. Findings aim to point toward hormone-related brain circuit targets that could be translated into treatments for relapse.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with opioid use disorder who are at risk of relapse or interested in hormone- or brain-circuit-based treatment approaches would be the eventual candidates for related human trials.
Not a fit: People without opioid addiction or those seeking immediate, proven therapies should not expect direct benefit from this preclinical research right now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal hormone-linked brain circuit targets for new treatments that reduce the risk of heroin relapse.
How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical and some small clinical studies suggest progesterone-related hormones can influence drug craving and relapse risk, but applying two-photon imaging and single-cell optogenetics in behaving animals to map causal circuits is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doncheck, Elizabeth — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Doncheck, Elizabeth
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.