Exploring the epigenetics of cocaine resistance

Drug addiction is known to have a heritable component and to run in families. However, a recent study in rats by Vassoler et al.¹ shows an unexpected result—that the sons of males who had self-administered cocaine had a reduced propensity to take this drug and a delay in their acquisition of drug-seeking behavior. The authors linked these behavioral changes to epigenetic changes in the sperm from cocaine-exposed males and in the brains of their male offspring. We asked four experts to comment on the results of this study and their implications for understanding how addictive phenotypes are inherited.