Chemogenetic excitation in males decreased ethanol reward, while inhibition had the opposite effect in females, suggesting sex differences in alcohol response.
Key Points
Chemogenetic manipulation of nucleus accumbens core activity alters ethanol reward based on sex.
Excitatory manipulation in males prevented ethanol conditioned place preference, while inhibition did so in females.
The study utilized both surgery naïve and DREADD-expressing B6 mice to test the influence of ethanol on reward.
Findings highlight important sex differences in mechanisms of alcohol use disorder development.