Linda I. Perrotti
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Room 511, Life Sciences Bldg.
Phone: (817) 272-1202
Email: perrotti@uta.edu

Description of Research

My primary research interests are to describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie hormonally mediated changes in drug reward and drug seeking behavior. In my laboratory, we use an integrative approach, combining cellular, molecular, and behavioral procedures to gain a better understanding of drug addiction. More specifically, I am interested in examining the interactions between steroid and glucocorticoid hormones on cocaine-induced activation of the mesocortolimbic reward system. In the Fall of 2006, I joined the faculty in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at Arlington and set up my own laboratory in which we conduct and interpret studies to clarify interactions among neuroendocrine and dopamine reward systems using rodent models of addictive behaviors.

Representative Publications

Perrotti, L.I., Bolanos, C.A., Choi, K.H., Russo, S.J., Edwards, S., Ulery, P.G., Wallace, D.L., Self, D.W., Nestler, E.J., & Barrot, M. FosB accumulates in a GABAergic cell population in the posterior tail of the ventral tegmental area after psychostimulant treatment. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2005. May; 21 (10): 2817-24.

Perrotti, L.I., Hadeishi, Y., Ulery, P.G., Barrot, M., Monteggia, L., Duman, R.S., & Nestler, E.J. Induction of DFosB in reward-related brain structures after chronic stress. J. Neurosci. 2004 Nov 24;24(47):10594-602.

Perrotti, L.I., Lu, D., Niyomachai, T., Cornejo, S., Russo, S.J., Jenab, S., & Quinones-Jenab, V. Temporal effects of estrogen and progesterone on behavioral and endocrinological responses to acute cocaine administration. Cell Mol Biol. 2003 Dec; 49(8):1269-74.

Perrotti, L.I., Russo, S.J., Fletcher, H., Chin, J., Webb, T., Jenab, S., & Quinones-Jenab, V. Ovarian hormones modulate cocaine-induced locomotor and stereotypic activity. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2001 Jun;937:202-16.

Perrotti, L.I., Beck, K.D., Luine, V.N., & Quinones, V. Progesterone and cocaine administration affect serotonin in the medial prefrontal cortex of ovariectomized rats. Neurosci. Lett. 2000 Sep 22;291(3):155-8.