While the interactive effect between ELS and alcohol seemed to normalize Fkbp5 expression in the reward circuit to the levels observed in control rats, a unique effect was observed in the CCx. Alcohol-drinking rats exposed to ELS displayed higher Fkbp5 expression compared to all other groups. The CCx regulates goal-oriented decision-making, outcomes representation and value [44], which are likely to be altered in the presence of ELS and alcohol. Altogether, these findings point to FKBP5 as a modulator of dopaminergic neurotransmission not only in processing of reward and motivational salience but also in executive functioning, supporting the dopamine hypothesis of addiction [45].
