Reward devaluation and heroin escalation is associated with differential expression of CRF signaling genes

•Heroin SA behavior is associated with differential CRF signaling gene expression.•mRNA expression differences occur in memory, reward and executive brain systems.•Differential mRNA expression of CRH binding protein may be regulated, in part, by CpG methylation.•The NAc is striking in having no changes in mRNA expression in CRF signaling genes.•Alignment of mPFC and Hipp may reflect coordinate CRF signaling in SA behavior.