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Erin Larson
Ph.D. 2006
Thesis Title: Factors influencing vulnerability to drug abuse in female rats
E-mail: larso323@umn.edu |
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:
Major Advisor(s):
Research Description:
My primary area of interest is examining factors that underlie sex differences in cocaine self-administration and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior after an abstinence period. One factor that has been identified that mediates cocaine-directed behavior in females is estrogen, and estrogen enhances cocaine self-administration and reinstatement in females, but not males. Using the reinstatement model, we have recently shown that estrogen can enhance the motivation to seek cocaine in the absence of any effects on learning stimulus-reward associations. Current ongoing studies are underway to determine the receptor selectivity of estrogen action by treating female OVX rats with estrogen agonists that are selective for alpha- or beta-receptor subtypes. Future studies will address the potential site of action of estrogen by injecting estrogen agonists or antagonists into specific sites in the brain that are associated with reward and motivation as it relates to drug self-administration and reinstatement.
A secondary interest of mine, which is a primary area of interest in our lab, is to identify factors that confer vulnerability to drug abuse. By selecting "high" and "low" responders for certain traits, we can assess the relative vulnerability for drug abuse in these animals by measuring their self-administration behavior during acquisition and maintenance phases of drug addiction, or by testing their propensity to reinstate cocaine seeking behavior after a period of abstinence. Using this methodology, I and others have found that animals that are highly impulsive will initiate cocaine self-administration to a greater degree than low impulsive animals. I have also found that animals that are high wheel runners are more likely to self-administer cocaine, and to reinstate cocaine-seeking behavior compared to animals with low preferences for wheel running.
Lab Rotations:
- Marilyn Carroll
- Martin Wessendorf
- Robert Elde
- Dorothy Hatsukami
- Paul Pentel
Courses Taken Beyond the Core Courses:
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PHCL 5110: Intro to Pharmacology
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CSPH 5401: Intro to Ethnopharmacology
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NSC 8207: Psychopharmacology Seminar
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NSC 5462: Neuroscience of Drug Abuse
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NSC 8222: Central Regulation of Autonomic Function
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NSC 8216: Autonomic and Neuroendocrine Systems (Journal Club)
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PUBH 5452: Biostatistics II
Graduate Level Minor:
- Supporting program (pharmacology, neuroendocrinology, and statistics)
Conferences Attended and Presentations:
Conferences Attended:
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Society for Neuroscience (SFN) annual meeting - 2000, 2002, 2004
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College of Problems in Drug Dependence (CPDD) meeting - 2000, 2002, 2005
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International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers (ISGIDAR) meeting - 2002, 2005
Committee Members:
- David Brown
- Marilyn Carroll - Advisor
- Bill Engeland - Chair
- Allen Levine
- Paul Mermelstein
Selected Publications and Presentations:
Published Manuscripts:
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Larson EB , Carroll ME. Estrogen Receptor beta, but not alpha, Mediates Estrogen's Effect on Cocaine-Induced Reinstatement of Extinguished Cocaine-Seeking Behavior in Ovariectomized Female Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2006 Nov 29
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Larson EB, Roth ME, Anker JJ, Carroll ME. Effect of short- vs. long-term estrogen on reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in female rats.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2005 Sep;82(1):98-108.
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Larson EB , Roth ME, Anker JJ, Carroll ME. Effect of estrogen on reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in female rats. Submitted for publication to Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, March 2005.
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Larson EB , Carroll ME. Wheel running as a predictor of cocaine self-administration and reinstatement in female rats. To be submitted to Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, April 2005.
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Perry JL, Larson EB , German JP, Madden GJ, Carroll ME. Impulsivity (delay discounting) as a predictor of acquisition of IV cocaine self-administration in female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2005;178(2-3):193-201.
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Larson EB , Schrott LM, Bordone L, Sparber SB. Embryonic cocaine exposure and corticosterone: serotonin(2) receptor mediation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2001 69(1-2):71-75.
Published Abstracts:
(* denotes that abstract was presented in poster format at the conference)
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* Larson EB , Carroll ME. Wheel running enhnances vulnerability to cocaine self-administration and reinstatement in rats. SFN Abstract 2004.
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Perry JL, Morgan AD, Larson EB , Madden GJ, Carroll ME. Impulsivity (delay discounting) for food and cocaine in male and female rats selected for high and low saccharin intake. SFN Abstract 2004.
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Carroll ME, Perry JL, Larson EB , Morgan AD, Madden GJ: Delay discounting (impulsivity) for food or drug reward as a predictor of drug self-administration in male and female rats. Johnson MW (Chair) Symposium on reward discounting, American Psychological Association, Honolulu , HI , July 2004.
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* Larson EB , Roth ME, Anker JJ, Carroll ME. Reinstatement of i.v. cocaine self-administration in female rats: effects of estrogen. CPDD Abstract 2004, also presented at the Women's Health Research Conference, September 2004.
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Perry JL, Morgan AD, Larson EB , Madden GJ, Carroll ME. Impulsivity (delay discounting) for food and cocaine in male and female rats selected for high and low saccharin intake. CPDD Abstract 2003.
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* Larson EB , Gremel CM, Carroll ME, Madden GJ. Impulsivity as a predictor of acquisition of cocaine self-administration. SFN Abstract 2002. Also published as a lay-language summary for the 2002 SFN Press Book.
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* Roth ME, Larson EB , Carroll ME. Influence of the effects of estrogen on the reinforcing effects of cocaine self-administration. SFN Abstract 2002.
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* Roth ME, Larson EB , Carroll ME. Sex differences in the acquisition and maintenance of intravenously self-administered methamphetamine in rats. CPDD Abstract 2002.
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* Larson EB , Schrott LM, Bordone L, Sparber SB. Dimethoxyiodophenylaminopropane mimics and ritanserin blocks cocaine's effect on serum corticosterone from embryonic day 18 chick embryos. SFN Abstract 2000.
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Schrott LM, Larson EB , Stanek JA, Sparber SB. Serum corticosterone as a marker for both prenatal naloxone-induced and postnatal spontaneous opiate withdrawal stress in the chicken. SFN Abstract 2000.
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* Schrott LM, Larson EB , Stanek JA, Sparber SB. Prenatal NLAAM exposure and/or postnatal withdrawal alter endocrine and immune system reactivity in the young chick. CPDD Abstract 2000.
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Beigon R, Schrott L, Larson E , Sparber SB. Ritanserin blocks the corticosterone surge caused by opiate withdrawal in the embryonic chick. Serotonin Satelliete Meeting, November 2000.
Oral Presentations :
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Larson EB. Estrogen mediation of relapse to cocaine-seeking behavior in female rats. Neuroscience Colliquium Speaker, April 2005.
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Larson EB. Sex differences in cocaine addition: role of estrogen. Neuroscience Colliquim Speaker, May 2004.
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Larson EB. Biological basis of drug addiction. Invited Speaker at Macalester College , March 2004.
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Larson EB, Gremel TM. Animal models of drug addiction. Invited Speakers Research Animal Resources personnel, University of MN , January 2002.
Awards and Honors:
Professional Memberships:
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International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers (ISGIDAR) member: 2003-present
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Society for Neuroscience (SFN) member: 2000-present
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Focus on Animal Contributions to Science (FACTS) - 1999-2001
Home Town:
- Hermantown ( Duluth ), MN
Community Outreach:
- Brain Awareness Week - 1999, 2002, 2004
- Exhibitor at the MN State Fair Brain Booth - 2000, 2002, 2004
- Science Fair Judge in Minneapolis Middle Schools - 2001
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