Sex specific role for Egr3 in nucleus accumbens D2-neurons following long term abstinence from cocaine self-administration

Abstract Background We previously showed the transcription factor Early Growth Response 3 (Egr3) is oppositely regulated in nucleus accumbens (NAc) cell subtypes 24 hours following cocaine exposure and bidirectionally mediates cocaine-related behaviors in male rodents. Overexpressing Egr3 in D2 receptor-containing medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) prior to drug exposure reduces the rewarding and psychomotor sensitization effects of cocaine. However, it is unknown if Egr3 plays a role in long-term neuroadaptations in the NAc and relapse to cocaine seeking. Methods We measured EGR3 protein levels in the NAc following 20 days of forced abstinence from intravenous cocaine self-administration in 10 week-old Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. In 8-10 week-old A2A-Cre mice, we used virally mediated Egr3 overexpression in NAc D2-MSNs to test the role of Egr3 on operant responding during seeking, extinction and drug-induced reinstatement of cocaine self-administration. To evaluate if Egr3 contributed to sex-differences to cocaine relapse, we conducted these procedures in both male and female rodents. Results We found that EGR3 expression was reduced only in females after 20 days of forced abstinence. Additionally, we showed that our self-administration paradigm in mice recapitulates the sex-differences in cocaine intake and relapse demonstrated in humans and rats. Finally, while Egr3 overexpression in D2-MSNs during forced abstinence facilitated extinction and blunted drug-induced reinstatement in females, it had the opposite effect in male mice. Conclusions We show that the immediate early gene Egr3 has long-term effects on drug-related behaviors. Our work suggests that changes in Egr3 expression in D2-MSNs contributes to sex-differences in cocaine relapse.