The glucocorticoid receptor, Nr3c1, is also broadly expressed in the CNS and periphery. Stress-induced glucocorticoid secretion can potentiate maladaptive behaviors including drug addiction (Frank et al., 2011). In particular, disrupting glucocorticoid signaling in D1+ MSNs by deleting Nr3c1 diminished the motivation these mice display to self-administer cocaine, and this is consistent with previous data where Nr3c1 was deleted from the entire brain (Ambroggi et al., 2009). These data are consistent with other findings described in this review, showing a predominant role for D1+ MSNs in mediating many of the effects of drugs of abuse.
