Scientists have discovered how estrogen spikes drive women to binge drinking

The scientists noticed that if the level of this hormone is high, animals tend to "front-load" - drink significant doses of alcohol in the first half hour after they get access to it.

More estrogen - stronger "binge"

The steroid hormone estrogen is known for affecting many processes in the female body, including reproduction. However, the authors of a paper in the journal Nature Communications note that in their experiments, estrogen stimulated the same areas of the brain that are associated with "reward seeking" and promoted the consumption of large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time.

During the experiment, the scientists observed the behaviour of female mice at different stages of their estrous cycle (an analogue of the female menstrual cycle). It turned out that those whose estrogen levels were at their peak drank much more alcohol and did so especially during the first half hour of accessing alcohol - this is what the researchers call "front-loading".

Surprise surprise: the hormone's "rapid" pattern of action

It used to be thought that estrogen affected the body by penetrating cells and changing the activity of certain genes. This process usually took hours or even days. But the new work demonstrates that it happens much faster. Scientists injected estrogen directly into the area of the brain that they already knew was responsible for increased cravings for alcohol, and noticed an immediate effect: neurons literally "flared up", increasing the desire to drink.

To confirm the hunch, the researchers used a specially "modified" version of estrogen, which can not penetrate the cell through its membrane and affect the genes. However, even this version stimulated the cells and provoked "binge" episodes. So, the hormone "works" from the outside by interacting with membrane receptors, not just in the gene apparatus.

Possible avenues of treatment

Having found out that sudden spikes in estrogen can increase cravings for alcohol, scientists plan to test whether this mechanism also affects males. They also have estrogen receptors, but the source of the hormone in the male body is not the ovaries, and the local conversion of testosterone into estrogen.

The researchers believe that in the future it may be possible to develop drugs that reduce the synthesis of estrogen or block the signals that go through these "fast" receptors. This approach could help women who suffer from alcohol dependence to reduce the risk of "binge" drinking, especially during periods of hormonal fluctuations.

Source: Lia J. Zallar et al, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54737-6