Prospects for finding the mechanisms of sex differences in addiction with human and model organism genetic analysis

Genes Brain Behav. 2020 Mar;19(3):e12645. doi: 10.1111/gbb.12645. Epub 2020 Feb 11.

Abstract

Despite substantial evidence for sex differences in addiction epidemiology, addiction-relevant behaviors and associated neurobiological phenomena, the mechanisms and implications of these differences remain unknown. Genetic analysis in model organism is a potentially powerful and effective means of discovering the mechanisms that underlie sex differences in addiction. Human genetic studies are beginning to show precise risk variants that influence the mechanisms of addiction but typically lack sufficient power or neurobiological mechanistic access, particularly for the discovery of the mechanisms that underlie sex differences. Our thesis in this review is that genetic variation in model organisms are a promising approach that can complement these investigations to show the biological mechanisms that underlie sex differences in addiction.

Keywords: addiction; addiction predictive; animal models; behavior; genetics; genomics; heritability; neurobiological; sex differences; substance use disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / methods
  • Genotype*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sex Characteristics*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / genetics*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / physiopathology