Striatal subregions are differentially vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine

Inhibition of Autophagy In Vivo Extends Methamphetamine Toxicity to Mesencephalic Cell Bodies

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widely abused psychostimulant and a stress-inducing compound, which leads to neurotoxicity for nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) terminals in rodents and primates including humans. In vitro studies indicate that autophagy is a strong modulator of METH toxicity. In detail, suppressing autophagy increases METH toxicity, while stimulating autophagy prevents METH-induced toxicity in cell cultures. In the present study, the role of autophagy was investigated in vivo. In the whole brain, METH alone destroys meso-striatal DA axon terminals, while fairly sparing DA cell bodies within substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). No damage to either cell bodies or axons from ventral tegmental area (VTA) is currently documented. According to the hypothesis that ongoing autophagy prevents METH-induced DA toxicity, we tested whether systemic injection of autophagy inhibitors such as asparagine (ASN, 1000 mg/Kg) or glutamine (GLN, 1000 mg/Kg), may extend METH toxicity to DA cell bodies, both within SNpc and VTA, where autophagy was found to be inhibited. When METH (5 mg/Kg × 4, 2 h apart) was administered to C57Bl/6 mice following ASN or GLN, a frank loss of cell bodies takes place within SNpc and a loss of both axons and cell bodies of VTA neurons is documented. These data indicate that, ongoing autophagy protects DA neurons and determines the refractoriness of cell bodies to METH-induced toxicity.

Methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity as a model of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a high prevalence, approximately 1 % in the elderly population. Numerous studies have demonstrated that methamphetamine (MA) intoxication caused the neurological deficits and nigrostriatal damage seen in Parkinsonian conditions, and subsequent rodent studies have found that neurotoxic binge administration of MA reproduced PD-like features, in terms of its symptomatology and pathology. Several anti-Parkinsonian medications have been shown to attenuate the motor impairments and dopaminergic damage induced by MA. In addition, it has been recognized that mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, pro-apoptosis, proteasomal/autophagic impairment, and neuroinflammation play important roles in inducing MA neurotoxicity. Importantly, MA neurotoxicity has been shown to share a common mechanism of dopaminergic toxicity with that of PD pathogenesis. This review describes the major findings on the neuropathological features and underlying neurotoxic mechanisms induced by MA and compares them with Parkinsonian pathogenesis. Taken together, it is suggested that neurotoxic binge-type administration of MA in rodents is a valid animal model for PD that may provide knowledge on the neuropathogenesis of PD.

The Chronic Oral Administration of Clobenzorex or Amphetamine Decreases Motor Behavior and Induces Glial Activation in the Striatum Without Dopaminergic Degeneration

Described as amphetamine-like due to their structural and stimulant similarities, clobenzorex is one of the five most-commonly used drugs in Mexico for the treatment of obesity. Various studies have shown that amphetamines induce dopaminergic neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation in the striatum, symptoms which are associated with motor damage. For this reason, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic clobenzorex administration on motor behaviors, TH immunoreactivity, gliosis, and the neurodegenerative process in the striatum and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The present research was conducted on three experimental groups of male Wistar rats: the vehicle group, the amphetamine group (2 mg/kg), and the clobenzorex group (30 mg/kg). All groups were subject to oral administration every 24 h for 31 days. Motor activity and motor coordination were evaluated in the open field test and the beam walking test, respectively. The animals were euthanized after the last day of treatment to enable the extraction of their brains for the evaluation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels, the immunoreactivity of the glial cells, and the neurodegeneration of both the striatum and SNpc via amino-cupric-silver stain. The results obtained show that amphetamine and clobenzorex administration decrease motor activity and motor coordination in the beam walking test and cause increased gliosis in the striatum, while no significant changes were observed in terms of immunoreactivity to TH and neurodegeneration in both the striatum and SNpc. These results suggest that the chronic administration of clobenzorex may decrease motor function in a manner similar to amphetamine, via the neuroadaptive and non-neurotoxic changes caused to the striatum under this administration scheme.

GPx-1-encoded adenoviral vector attenuates dopaminergic impairments induced by methamphetamine in GPx-1 knockout mice through modulation of NF-κB transcription factor

We suggested that selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GPx) plays a protective role against methamphetamine (MA)-induced dopaminergic toxicity. We focused on GPx-1, a major selenium-dependent enzyme and constructed a GPx-1 gene-encoded adenoviral vector (Ad-GPx-1) to delineate the role of GPx-1 in MA-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Exposure to Ad-GPx-1 significantly induced GPx activity and GPx-1 protein levels in GPx-1-knockout (GPx-1-KO) mice. MA-induced dopaminergic impairments [i.e., hyperthermia; increased nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity; and decreased dopamine levels, TH activity, and behavioral activity] were more pronounced in GPx-1-KO mice than in WT mice. In contrast, exposure to Ad-GPx-1 significantly attenuated MA-induced dopaminergic loss in GPx-1-KO mice. The protective effect exerted by Ad-GPx-1 was comparable to that exerted by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an NF-κB inhibitor against MA insult. Consistently, GPx-1 overexpression significantly attenuated MA dopaminergic toxicity in mice. PDTC did not significantly impact the protective effect of GPx-1 overexpression, suggesting that interaction between NF-κB and GPx-1 is critical for dopaminergic protection. Thus, NF-κB is a potential therapeutic target for GPx-1-mediated dopaminergic protective activity. This study for the first time demonstrated that Ad-GPx-1 rescued dopaminergic toxicity in vivo following MA insult. Furthermore, GPx-1-associated therapeutic interventions may be important against dopaminergic toxicity.

In vivo long-lasting alterations of central serotonin transporter activity and associated dopamine synthesis after acute repeated administration of methamphetamine

Background

Methamphetamine (METH)-associated alterations in the striatal dopamine (DA) system or dopamine transport (DAT) have been identified in clinical and preclinical studies with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging but have not been well correlated with in vivo serotonin transporter (SERT) availability due to the lack of appropriate imaging agents to assess SERTs. N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-amino-4-[¹⁸F]-fluorophenylthio) benzylamine (4-[¹⁸F]-ADAM) has been developed by our group and validated for its high affinity and selectivity for SERTs, allowing the in vivo examination of SERT density, location, and binding function. The aims of this study were to investigate the potential of SERT imaging using 4-[¹⁸F]-ADAM PET to estimate the long-lasting effects of METH-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity, and further determine whether a correlative relationship exists between SERT availability/activity and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in various brain regions due to the long-lasting consequences of METH treatment.

Results

Male rats received four administrations of METH (5 or 10 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline (1 ml/kg, s.c.) at 1-h intervals. At 30 days post-administration, in vivo SERT availability and activity were measured by 4-[¹⁸F]ADAM PET imaging. In contrast to the controls, the uptake of 4-[¹⁸F]ADAM in METH-treated mice was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner in the midbrain, followed by the hypothalamus, thalamus, striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex. The regional effects of METH on TH activity were assessed by quantitative immunohistochemistry and presented as integrated optical density (IOD). A significant decrease in TH immunostaining and IOD ratios was seen in the caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra pars compacta, and substantia nigra pars reticulata in the METH-treated rats compared to controls.

Conclusion

The present results suggested that the long-lasting response to METH decreased the uptake of 4-[¹⁸F]-ADAM and varied regionally along with TH immunoreactivity. In addition, 4-[¹⁸F]ADAM PET could be used to detect serotonergic neuron loss and to evaluate the severity of serotonergic neurotoxicity of METH.

Ginsenoside Re protects methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice via upregulation of dynorphin-mediated κ-opioid receptor and downregulation of substance P-mediated neurokinin 1 receptor

BACKGROUND

We previously reported that ginsenoside Re (GRe) attenuated against methamphetamine (MA)-induced neurotoxicity via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials. We also demonstrated that dynorphin possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials against dopaminergic loss, and that balance between dynorphin and substance P is important for dopaminergic neuroprotection. Thus, we examined whether GRe positively affects interactive modulation between dynorphin and substance P against MA neurotoxicity in mice.

METHODS

We examined changes in dynorphin peptide level, prodynorphin mRNA, and substance P mRNA, substance P-immunoreactivity, homeostasis in enzymatic antioxidant system, oxidative parameter, microglial activation, and pro-apoptotic parameter after a neurotoxic dose of MA to clarify the effects of GRe, prodynorphin knockout, pharmacological inhibition of κ-opioid receptor (i.e., nor-binaltorphimine), or neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor (i.e., L-733,060) against MA insult in mice.

RESULTS

GRe attenuated MA-induced decreases in dynorphin level, prodynorphin mRNA expression in the striatum of wild-type (WT) mice. Prodynorphin knockout potentiated MA-induced dopaminergic toxicity in mice. The imbalance of enzymatic antioxidant system, oxidative burdens, microgliosis, and pro-apoptotic changes led to the dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Neuroprotective effects of GRe were more pronounced in prodynorphin knockout than in WT mice. Nor-binaltorphimine, a κ-opioid receptor antagonist, counteracted against protective effects of GRe. In addition, we found that GRe significantly attenuated MA-induced increases in substance P-immunoreactivity and substance P mRNA expression in the substantia nigra. These increases were more evident in prodynorphin knockout than in WT mice. Although, we observed that substance P-immunoreactivity was co-localized in NeuN-immunreactive neurons, GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes, and Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia. NK1 receptor antagonist L-733,060 or GRe selectively inhibited microgliosis induced by MA. Furthermore, L-733,060 did not show any additive effects against GRe-mediated protective activity (i.e., antioxidant, antimicroglial, and antiapoptotic effects), indicating that NK1 receptor is one of the molecular targets of GRe.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that GRe protects MA-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity via upregulatgion of dynorphin-mediated κ-opioid receptor and downregulation of substance P-mediated NK1 R.

Molecular, Behavioral, and Physiological Consequences of Methamphetamine Neurotoxicity: Implications for Treatment

Understanding the relationship between the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity of high-dose methamphetamine (METH) and related clinical manifestations is imperative for providing more effective treatments for human METH users. This article provides an overview of clinical manifestations of METH neurotoxicity to the central nervous system and neurobiology underlying the consequences of administration of neurotoxic METH doses, and discusses implications of METH neurotoxicity for treatment of human abusers of the drug.

Role of Mitochondria in Methamphetamine-Induced Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity: Involvement in Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Pro-apoptosis-A Review

Methamphetamine (MA), an amphetamine-type psychostimulant, is associated with dopaminergic toxicity and has a high abuse potential. Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have suggested that impaired mitochondria are critical in dopaminergic toxicity induced by MA. Mitochondria are important energy-producing organelles with dynamic nature. Evidence indicated that exposure to MA can disturb mitochondrial energetic metabolism by inhibiting the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain. Alterations in mitochondrial dynamic processes, including mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and fusion/fission, have recently been shown to contribute to dopaminergic toxicity induced by MA. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that MA-induced mitochondrial impairment enhances susceptibility to oxidative stress, pro-apoptosis, and neuroinflammation in a positive feedback loop. Protein kinase Cδ has emerged as a potential mediator between mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress, pro-apoptosis, or neuroinflammation in MA neurotoxicity. Understanding the role and underlying mechanism of mitochondrial impairment could provide a molecular target to prevent or alleviate dopaminergic toxicity induced by MA.

Nucleus accumbens invulnerability to methamphetamine neurotoxicity

Methamphetamine (Meth) is a neurotoxic drug of abuse that damages neurons and nerve endings throughout the central nervous system. Emerging studies of human Meth addicts using both postmortem analyses of brain tissue and noninvasive imaging studies of intact brains have confirmed that Meth causes persistent structural abnormalities. Animal and human studies have also defined a number of significant functional problems and comorbid psychiatric disorders associated with long-term Meth abuse. This review summarizes the salient features of Meth-induced neurotoxicity with a focus on the dopamine (DA) neuronal system. DA nerve endings in the caudate-putamen (CPu) are damaged by Meth in a highly delimited manner. Even within the CPu, damage is remarkably heterogeneous, with ventral and lateral aspects showing the greatest deficits. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is largely spared the damage that accompanies binge Meth intoxication, but relatively subtle changes in the disposition of DA in its nerve endings can lead to dramatic increases in Meth-induced toxicity in the CPu and overcome the normal resistance of the NAc to damage. In contrast to the CPu, where DA neuronal deficiencies are persistent, alterations in the NAc show a partial recovery. Animal models have been indispensable in studies of the causes and consequences of Meth neurotoxicity and in the development of new therapies. This research has shown that increases in cytoplasmic DA dramatically broaden the neurotoxic profile of Meth to include brain structures not normally targeted for damage. The resistance of the NAc to Meth-induced neurotoxicity and its ability to recover reveal a fundamentally different neuroplasticity by comparison to the CPu. Recruitment of the NAc as a target of Meth neurotoxicity by alterations in DA homeostasis is significant in light of the numerous important roles played by this brain structure.

Running wheel exercise before a binge regimen of methamphetamine does not protect against striatal dopaminergic damage

Repeated administration of methamphetamine (mAMPH) to rodents in a single-day "binge" dosing regimen produces long-lasting damage to forebrain dopaminergic nerve terminals as measured by decreases in tissue dopamine (DA) content and levels of the plasmalemmal DA transporter (DAT). However, the midbrain cell bodies from which the DA terminals arise survive, and previous reports show that striatal DA markers return to control levels by 12 months post-mAMPH, suggesting long-term repair or regrowth of damaged DA terminals. We previously showed that when rats engaged in voluntary aerobic exercise for 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after a binge regimen of mAMPH, exercise significantly ameliorated mAMPH-induced decreases in striatal DAT. However, these data left unresolved the question of whether exercise protected against the initial neurotoxicity from the mAMPH binge or accelerated the repair of the damaged DA terminals. The present experiments were designed to test whether exercise protects against the mAMPH-induced injury. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed to run in wheels for 3 weeks before an acute binge regimen of mAMPH or saline, then placed into nonwheel cages for an additional week before autoradiographic determination of striatal DAT binding. The autoradiographic findings showed that prior exercise provided no protection against mAMPH-induced damage to striatal DA terminals. These results, together with analyses from our previous experiments, suggest that voluntary exercise may accelerate the repair of mAMPH-damaged DA terminals and that voluntary exercise may be useful as therapeutic adjunct in the treatment mAMPH addicts.

Chronic wheel running reduces maladaptive patterns of methamphetamine intake: regulation by attenuation of methamphetamine-induced neuronal nitric oxide synthase

We investigated whether prior exposure to chronic wheel running (WR) alters maladaptive patterns of excessive and escalating methamphetamine intake under extended access conditions, and intravenous methamphetamine self-administration-induced neurotoxicity. Adult rats were given access to WR or no wheel (sedentary) in their home cage for 6 weeks. A set of WR rats were injected with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) to determine WR-induced changes in proliferation (2-h old) and survival (28-day old) of hippocampal progenitors. Another set of WR rats were withdrawn (WRw) or continued (WRc) to have access to running wheels in their home cages during self-administration days. Following self-administration [6 h/day], rats were tested on the progressive ratio (PR) schedule. Following PR, BrdU was injected to determine levels of proliferating progenitors (2-h old). WRc rats self-administered significantly less methamphetamine than sedentary rats during acquisition and escalation sessions, and demonstrated reduced motivation for methamphetamine seeking. Methamphetamine reduced daily running activity of WRc rats compared with that of pre-methamphetamine days. WRw rats self-administered significantly more methamphetamine than sedentary rats during acquisition, an effect that was not observed during escalation and PR sessions. WR-induced beneficial effects on methamphetamine self-administration were not attributable to neuroplasticity effects in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex, but were attributable to WR-induced inhibition of methamphetamine-induced increases in the number of neuronal nitric oxide synthase expressing neurons and apoptosis in the nucleus accumbens shell. Our results demonstrate that WR prevents methamphetamine-induced damage to forebrain neurons to provide a beneficial effect on drug-taking behavior. Importantly, WR-induced neuroprotective effects are transient and continued WR activity is necessary to prevent compulsive methamphetamine intake.

The effects of locus coeruleus and norepinephrine in methamphetamine toxicity

The activity of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons has been extensively investigated in a variety of behavioural states. In fact this norepinephrine (NE)-containing nucleus modulates many physiological and pathological conditions including the sleep-waking cycle, movement disorders, mood alterations, convulsive seizures, and the effects of drugs such as psychostimulants and opioids. This review focuses on the modulation exerted by central NE pathways on the behavioural and neurotoxic effects produced by the psychostimulant methamphetamine, essentially the modulation of the activity of mesencephalic dopamine (DA) neurons. In fact, although NE in itself mediates some behavioural effects induced by methamphetamine, NE modulation of DA release is pivotal for methamphetamine-induced behavioural states and neurotoxicity. These interactions are discussed on the basis of the state of the art of the functional neuroanatomy of central NE- and DA systems. Emphasis is given to those brain sites possessing a remarkable overlapping of both neurotransmitters.

Altered learning and Arc-regulated consolidation of learning in striatum by methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity

Methamphetamine (METH) causes partial depletion of central monoamine systems and cognitive dysfunction in rats and humans. We have previously shown and now further show that the positive correlation between expression of the immediate-early gene Arc (activity-regulated, cytoskeleton-associated) in the dorsomedial (DM) striatum and learning on a response reversal task is lost in rats with METH-induced striatal dopamine loss, despite normal behavioral performance and unaltered N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitatory post-synaptic currents, suggesting intact excitatory transmission. This discrepancy suggests that METH-pretreated rats may no longer be using the dorsal striatum to solve the reversal task. To test this hypothesis, male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with a neurotoxic regimen of METH or saline. Guide cannulae were surgically implanted bilaterally into the DM striatum. Three weeks after METH treatment, rats were trained on a motor response version of a T-maze task, and then underwent reversal training. Before reversal training, the NMDA receptor antagonist DL-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5) or an Arc antisense oligonucleotide was infused into the DM striatum. Acute disruption of DM striatal function by infusion of AP5 impaired reversal learning in saline-, but not METH-, pretreated rats. Likewise, acute disruption of Arc, which is implicated in consolidation of long-term memory, disrupted retention of reversal learning 24 h later in saline-, but not METH-, pretreated rats. These results highlight the critical importance of Arc in the striatum in consolidation of basal ganglia-mediated learning and suggest that long-term toxicity induced by METH alters the cognitive strategies/neural circuits used to solve tasks normally mediated by dorsal striatal function.

Methamphetamine-induced dopamine terminal deficits in the nucleus accumbens are exacerbated by reward-associated cues and attenuated by CB1 receptor antagonism

Methamphetamine (METH) exposure is primarily associated with deleterious effects to dopaminergic neurons. While several studies have implicated the endocannabinoid system in METH's locomotor, rewarding and neurochemical effects, a role for this signaling system in METH's effects on dopamine terminal dynamics has not been elucidated. Given that CB1 receptor blockade reduces the acute potentiation of phasic extracellular dopamine release from other psychomotor stimulant drugs and that the degree of acute METH-induced increases in extracellular dopamine levels is related to the severity of dopamine depletion, we predicted that pretreatment with the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant would reduce METH-induced alterations at dopamine terminals. Furthermore, we hypothesized that administration of METH in environments where reward associated-cues were present would potentiate METH's acute effects on dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and exacerbate changes in dopamine terminal activity. Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to measure electrically-evoked dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and revealed markers of compromised dopamine terminal integrity nine days after a single dose of METH. These were exacerbated in animals that received METH in the presence of reward-associated cues, and attenuated in rimonabant-pretreated animals. While these deficits in dopamine dynamics were associated with reduced operant responding on days following METH administration in animals treated with only METH, rimonabant-pretreated animals exhibited levels of operant responding comparable to control. Moreover, dopamine release correlated significantly with changes in lever pressing behavior that occurred on days following METH administration. Together these data suggest that the endocannabinoid system is involved in the subsecond dopaminergic response to METH.

Work aversion and associated changes in dopamine and serotonin transporter after methamphetamine exposure in rats

RATIONALE

Methamphetamine (mAMPH) administration in animals can lead to a variety of cognitive and behavioral deficits. We previously reported non-acute reversal learning impairments after a single-day administration of mAMPH, providing evidence of this drug's selective effects on inhibitory control. Effortful decision-making (i.e., how much effort to invest in rewards) is an aspect of cognition that has not yet been explored after mAMPH.

OBJECTIVES

Given that frontostriatal circuitry mediating this type of choice is vulnerable to the effects of mAMPH, we tested the hypothesis that mAMPH may also affect decision-making involving effort, another form of cognitive flexibility.

METHODS

We examined the non-acute effects of an experimenter-administered single day of mAMPH on effort discounting. In this task, rats previously treated with mAMPH or saline (SAL) could select a high reward at the cost of climbing over a tall barrier or a low reward with no barrier impeding its procurement.

RESULTS

Following treatment, mAMPH rats were more work-averse than SAL rats. A control task showed there were no treatment group differences when the high and low rewards involved equal work: all rats chose the high reward preferentially. There were no significant treatment group differences in [(125)I]RTI-55 binding to dopamine and serotonin transporters (DAT, SERT) in any of the regions assayed; however, there were significant correlations of accumbens DAT and cingulate SERT with post-treatment performance.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that even modest dose mAMPH exposure has long-lasting effects on effortful decision-making and may do so through influences on forebrain monoaminergic systems.

Running wheel exercise ameliorates methamphetamine-induced damage to dopamine and serotonin terminals

Repeated administration of methamphetamine (mAMPH) to rodents in a single-day "binge" produces long-lasting damage to dopaminergic and serotonergic terminals. Because previous research has demonstrated that physical activity can ameliorate nigrostriatal injury, this study investigated whether voluntary exercise in rats can alter the monoaminergic damage resulting from a neurotoxic mAMPH binge. Adult male rats were allowed constant access to running wheels or kept in nonwheel cages for three weeks, then given a binge dosing regimen of mAMPH or saline. The rats were returned to their original environments for three additional weeks post-mAMPH. [(125) I]RTI-55 binding and autoradiography was used to quantify dopamine transporters (DAT), and radioimmunocytochemistry was used to quantify striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Binge mAMPH treatment significantly reduced striatal DAT and TH in a regionally specific pattern; with greatest effects in ventral caudate-putamen (CP) and relative sparing of the nucleus accumbens septi (NAc). The effects of mAMPH on striatal DAT and TH were ameliorated in the running, compared to the sedentary, animals. Also, mAMPH was found to reduce [(125) I]RTI-55 binding to serotonin transporters (SERT) in frontoparietal cortex, and this too was significantly attenuated by exercise. Additional correlational analyses showed that the post-mAMPH running of individual animals predicted the amelioration of striatal DAT and TH as well as frontoparietal SERT. Overall, voluntary exercise significantly diminished mAMPH-induced forebrain monoaminergic damage. The significant correlations between post-mAMPH exercise and markers of monoaminergic terminal integrity provide novel evidence that voluntary exercise may exert beneficial effects on behavior in recovering mAMPH addicts.

Cortical ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonism protects against methamphetamine-induced striatal neurotoxicity

Binge administration of the psychostimulant drug, methamphetamine (mAMPH), produces long-lasting structural and functional abnormalities in the striatum. mAMPH binges produce nonexocytotic release of dopamine (DA), and mAMPH-induced activation of excitatory afferent inputs to cortex and striatum is evidenced by elevated extracellular glutamate (GLU) in both regions. The mAMPH-induced increases in DA and GLU neurotransmission are thought to combine to injure striatal DA nerve terminals of mAMPH-exposed brains. Systemic pretreatment with either competitive or noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) antagonists protects against mAMPH-induced striatal DA terminal damage, but the locus of these antagonists' effects has not been determined. Here, we applied either the NMDA receptor antagonist, (dl)-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5), or the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist, dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), directly to the dura mater over frontoparietal cortex to assess their effects on mAMPH-induced cortical and striatal immediate-early gene (c-fos) expression. In a separate experiment we applied AP5 or DNQX epidurally in the same cortical location of rats during a binge regimen of mAMPH and assessed mAMPH-induced striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) depletions 1 week later. Our results indicate that both ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists reduced the mAMPH-induced Fos expression in cerebral cortex regions near the site of epidural application and reduced Fos immunoreactivity in striatal regions innervated by the affected cortical regions. Also, epidural application of the same concentration of either antagonist during a binge mAMPH regimen blunted the mAMPH-induced striatal DAT depletions with a topography similar to its effects on Fos expression. These findings demonstrate that mAMPH-induced dopaminergic injury depends upon cortical NMDA and AMPA receptor activation and suggest the involvement of the corticostriatal projections in mAMPH neurotoxicity.

Nrf2 deficiency potentiates methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic axonal damage and gliosis in the striatum

Oxidative stress that correlates with damage to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and reactive gliosis in the basal ganglia is a hallmark of methamphetamine (METH) toxicity. In this study, we analyzed the protective role of the transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2), a master regulator of redox homeostasis, in METH-induced neurotoxicity. We found that Nrf2 deficiency exacerbated METH-induced damage to dopamine neurons, shown by an increase in loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)- and dopamine transporter (DAT)-containing fibers in striatum. Consistent with these effects, Nrf2 deficiency potentiated glial activation, indicated by increased striatal expression of markers for microglia (Mac-1 and Iba-1) and astroglia (GFAP) one day after METH administration. At the same time, Nrf2 inactivation dramatically potentiated the increase in TNFα mRNA and IL-15 protein expression in GFAP+ cells in the striatum. In sharp contrast to the potentiation of striatal damage, Nrf2 deficiency did not affect METH-induced dopaminergic neuron death or expression of glial markers or proinflammatory molecules in the substantia nigra. This study uncovers a new role for Nrf2 in protection against METH-induced inflammatory and oxidative stress and striatal degeneration.

Striatal dopamine D1 and D2 receptors: widespread influences on methamphetamine-induced dopamine and serotonin neurotoxicity

Methamphetamine (mAMPH) is an addictive psychostimulant drug that releases monoamines through nonexocytotic mechanisms. In animals, binge mAMPH dosing regimens deplete markers for monoamine nerve terminals, for example, dopamine and serotonin transporters (DAT and SERT), in striatum and cerebral cortex. Although the precise mechanism of mAMPH-induced damage to monoaminergic nerve terminals is uncertain, both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are known to be important. Systemic administration of dopamine D1 or D2 receptor antagonists to rodents prevents mAMPH-induced damage to striatal dopamine nerve terminals. Because these studies employed systemic antagonist administration, the specific brain regions involved remain to be elucidated. The present study examined the contribution of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in striatum to mAMPH-induced DAT and SERT neurotoxicities. In this experiment, either the dopamine D1 antagonist, SCH23390, or the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, sulpiride, was intrastriatally infused during a binge mAMPH regimen. Striatal DAT and cortical, hippocampal, and amygdalar SERT were assessed as markers of mAMPH-induced neurotoxicity 1 week following binge mAMPH administration. Blockade of striatal dopamine D1 or D2 receptors during an otherwise neurotoxic binge mAMPH regimen produced widespread protection against mAMPH-induced striatal DAT loss and cortical, hippocampal, and amygdalar SERT loss. This study demonstrates that (1) dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in striatum, like nigral D1 receptors, are needed for mAMPH-induced striatal DAT reductions, (2) these same receptors are needed for mAMPH-induced SERT loss, and (3) these widespread influences of striatal dopamine receptor antagonists are likely attributable to circuits connecting basal ganglia to thalamus and cortex.

Methamphetamine causes persistent immune dysregulation: a cross-species, translational report

Methamphetamine (MA) dependence causes serious cognitive impairments that can persist during abstinence and negatively affect recovery outcomes. Evidence suggests that immune factors, such as cytokines, chemokines, and cellular adhesion molecules, contribute to MA-induced immune dysfunction, neuronal injury, and persistent cognitive impairments, yet the role of MA-induced brain inflammation remains unclear. To address this question, we used a cross-species, translational approach. Thirty-two male C57BL/6J mice were administered MA (1 mg/kg) or saline subcutaneously for seven consecutive days. Mice were euthanized at 72 h or 3 weeks after the last drug dose, and blood and brain samples were collected. In addition, 20 adults in remission from MA dependence and 20 non-dependent controls completed neuropsychological assessments and a blood draw. Multiplex assays were used to measure cytokine, chemokine, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) expression in mouse and human samples. A number of significant MA-induced changes in neuroimmune factors were observed. Of particular interest were the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and the cellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1, which were similarly increased in the plasma of MA exposed mice as well as humans. In human participants, MA-induced changes in the cytokine and chemokine milieu were accompanied by increased cognitive impairments. Mice showing MA-induced changes in peripheral immune molecule expression also had significant brain-region specific changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and ICAM-1. This cross-species, translational study suggests that chronic CNS immune dysregulation may in part contribute to the longlasting neuropsychiatric consequences of MA dependence.

Neurotoxic methamphetamine regimens produce long-lasting changes in striatal G-proteins

Animals repeatedly dosed with methamphetamine during a single day suffer damage to brain dopamine and serotonin terminals and show behavioral deficits. These methamphetamine regimens also produce long-term reductions in dopamine agonist-stimulated immediate-early gene responses both in striatum and several cortical areas, but the mechanism(s) underlying these long-lasting effects of methamphetamine remain uncertain. Six weeks after a neurotoxic regimen of methamphetamine (4 × 4 mg/kg) or saline, α subunit levels of striatal G-proteins that couple dopamine receptors to second messenger systems were measured. Because the damage to striatal monoamine terminals produced by methamphetamine is regionally heterogeneous, we used radioimmunocytochemistry, which combines quantification with regional resolution. We found significant increases in G(iα) and G(olfα) expression in the ventral striatum (but not in the dorsolateral striatum or nucleus accumbens) of methamphetamine-pretreated rats, a regional pattern similar to that reported for methamphetamine effects on dopamine terminal markers. By contrast, G(qα) expression was unaffected in all striatal subregions. The central roles of G(i) and G(olf) in modulating the activity of a series of interlinked intracellular signaling pathways suggest that methamphetamine-induced changes in G(i) and G(olf) can have lasting effects on striatal neuronal function.

A neurotoxic regimen of methamphetamine impairs novelty recognition as measured by a social odor-based task

Repeated administration of methamphetamine (mAMPH) to rodents in a single-day "binge" regimen damages forebrain monoaminergic nerve terminals and produces subsequent cognitive deficits. Here we investigate performance on a social odor-based task, demonstrating enduring mAMPH-induced deficits in recognition memory. Three weeks after a neurotoxic mAMPH regimen, singly-housed male Long-Evans rats had four wooden beads placed in their home cage: three beads containing odors from their home cage (HC beads) and one bead from a cage of a rat not present in the colony room (N1 bead). Exploration times for each bead were recorded during three 1-min habituation trials separated by 1-min intertrial intervals. Twenty-four hours later, a 1-min memory test was conducted, in which animals were presented with two HC beads, one N1 bead, and one bead from another novel animal (N2). Saline- and mAMPH-treated rats showed similar, progressive decreases in exploration time for the N1 bead during the habituation trials, indicating equivalent short-term olfactory habituation to the novel odor. By contrast, during the subsequent memory test, saline-treated rats showed a strong preference for the N2 bead over the N1 bead while mAMPH-treated rats showed no preference. The use of the rats' primary sensory modality (olfaction) coupled with the social significance (from conspecifics) of the odors produces strong, long-lasting memories. Our results show that prior treatment with a neurotoxic regimen of mAMPH impairs long-term memory for the previously experienced odors. As compared with previously employed object recognition tasks, this test may be advantageous for investigating mAMPH-induced memory impairments in rodents.

Methamphetamine-induced dopamine transporter complex formation and dopaminergic deficits: the role of D2 receptor activation

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is a serious public health issue. Of particular concern are findings that repeated high-dose administrations of METH cause persistent dopaminergic deficits in rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans. Previous studies have also revealed that METH treatment causes alterations in the dopamine transporter (DAT), including the formation of higher molecular mass DAT-associated complexes. The current study extends these findings by examining mechanisms underlying DAT complex formation. The association among DAT complex formation and other METH-induced phenomena, including alterations in vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) immunoreactivity, astrocytic activation [as assessed by increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity], and persistent dopaminergic deficits was also explored. Results revealed that METH-induced DAT complex formation and reductions in VMAT2 immunoreactivity precede increases in GFAP immunoreactivity. Furthermore, and as reported previously for DAT complexes, pretreatment with the D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride [S-(-)-3-chloro-5-ethyl-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-6-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzamide hydrochloride] attenuated the decrease in VMAT2 immunoreactivity as assessed 24 h after METH treatment. DAT complexes distinct from those present 24 h after METH treatment, decreases in VMAT2 immunoreactivity, and increased GFAP immunoreactivity were present 48 to 72 h after METH treatment. Pretreatment with eticlopride attenuated each of these phenomena. Finally, DAT complexes were present 7 days after METH treatment, a time point at which VMAT2 and DAT monomer immunoreactivity were also reduced. Eticlopride pretreatment attenuated each of these phenomena. These findings provide novel insight into not only receptor-mediated mechanisms underlying the effects of METH but also the interaction among factors that probably are associated with the persistent dopaminergic deficits caused by the stimulant.

Reversal-specific learning impairments after a binge regimen of methamphetamine in rats: possible involvement of striatal dopamine

A growing body of evidence indicates that protracted use of methamphetamine (mAMPH) causes long-term impairments in cognitive function in humans. Aside from the widely reported problems with attention, mAMPH users exhibit learning and memory deficits, particularly on tasks requiring response control. Although binge mAMPH administration to animals results in cognitive deficits, few studies have attempted to test behavioral flexibility in animals after mAMPH exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether mAMPH would produce impairments in two tasks assessing flexible responding in rats: a touchscreen-based discrimination-reversal learning task and an attentional set shift task (ASST) based on a hallmark test of executive function in humans, the Wisconsin Card Sort. We treated male Long-Evans rats with a regimen of four injections of 2 mg/kg mAMPH (or vehicle) within a single day, a dosing regimen shown earlier to produce object recognition impairments. We then tested them on (1) reversal learning after pretreatment discrimination learning or (2) the ASST. Early reversal learning accuracy was impaired in mAMPH-treated rats. MAMPH pretreatment also selectively impaired reversal performance during ASST testing, leaving set-shifting performance intact. Postmortem analysis of [(125)I]RTI-55 binding revealed small (10-20%) but significant reductions in striatal dopamine transporters produced by this mAMPH regimen. Together, these results lend new information to the growing field documenting impaired cognition after mAMPH exposure, and constitute a rat model of the widely reported decision-making deficits resulting from mAMPH abuse seen in humans.

Increases in cytoplasmic dopamine compromise the normal resistance of the nucleus accumbens to methamphetamine neurotoxicity

Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxic drug of abuse that damages the dopamine (DA) neuronal system in a highly delimited manner. The brain structure most affected by METH is the caudate-putamen (CPu) where long-term DA depletion and microglial activation are most evident. Even damage within the CPu is remarkably heterogenous with lateral and ventral aspects showing the greatest deficits. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is largely spared of the damage that accompanies binge METH intoxication. Increases in cytoplasmic DA produced by reserpine, L-DOPA or clorgyline prior to METH uncover damage in the NAc as evidenced by microglial activation and depletion of DA, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and the DA transporter. These effects do not occur in the NAc after treatment with METH alone. In contrast to the CPu where DA, TH, and DA transporter levels remain depleted chronically, DA nerve ending alterations in the NAc show a partial recovery over time. None of the treatments that enhance METH toxicity in the NAc and CPu lead to losses of TH protein or DA cell bodies in the substantia nigra or the ventral tegmentum. These data show that increases in cytoplasmic DA dramatically broaden the neurotoxic profile of METH to include brain structures not normally targeted for damage by METH alone. The resistance of the NAc to METH-induced neurotoxicity and its ability to recover reveal a fundamentally different neuroplasticity by comparison to the CPu. Recruitment of the NAc as a target of METH neurotoxicity by alterations in DA homeostasis is significant in light of the important roles played by this brain structure.

Methamphetamine toxicity and messengers of death

Methamphetamine (METH) is an illicit psychostimulant that is widely abused in the world. Several lines of evidence suggest that chronic METH abuse leads to neurodegenerative changes in the human brain. These include damage to dopamine and serotonin axons, loss of gray matter accompanied by hypertrophy of the white matter and microgliosis in different brain areas. In the present review, we summarize data on the animal models of METH neurotoxicity which include degeneration of monoaminergic terminals and neuronal apoptosis. In addition, we discuss molecular and cellular bases of METH-induced neuropathologies. The accumulated evidence indicates that multiple events, including oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, hyperthermia, neuroinflammatory responses, mitochondrial dysfunction, and endoplasmic reticulum stress converge to mediate METH-induced terminal degeneration and neuronal apoptosis. When taken together, these findings suggest that pharmacological strategies geared towards the prevention and treatment of the deleterious effects of this drug will need to attack the various pathways that form the substrates of METH toxicity.

Mechanisms underlying methamphetamine-induced dopamine transporter complex formation

Repeated, high-dose methamphetamine (METH) administrations cause persistent dopaminergic deficits in rodents, nonhuman primates, and humans. In rats, this treatment also causes the formation of high-molecular mass (greater than approximately 120 kDa) dopamine transporter (DAT)-associated complexes, the loss of DAT monomer immunoreactivity, and a decrease in DAT function, as assessed in striatal synaptosomes prepared 24 h after METH treatment. The present study extends these findings by demonstrating the regional selectivity of DAT complex formation and monomer loss because these changes in DAT immunoreactivity were not observed in the nucleus accumbens. Furthermore, DAT complex formation was not a consequence limited to METH treatment because it was also caused by intrastriatal administration of 6-hydroxydopamine. Pretreatment with the D2 receptor antagonist, eticlopride [S-(-)-3-chloro-5-ethyl-N-[(1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)methyl]-6-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzamide hydrochloride], but not the D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390 [R(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride], attenuated METH-induced DAT complex formation. Eticlopride pretreatment also attenuated METH-induced DAT monomer loss and decreases in DAT function; however, the attenuation was much less pronounced than the effect on DAT complex formation. Finally, results also revealed a negative correlation between METH-induced DAT complex formation and DAT activity. Taken together, these data further elucidate the underlying mechanisms and the functional consequences of repeated administrations of METH on the DAT protein. Furthermore, these data suggest a multifaceted role for D2 receptors in mediating METH-induced alterations of the DAT and its function.

Effects of psychostimulants on neurotrophins implications for psychostimulant-induced neurotoxicity

It is well documented that psychostimulants may alter neuronal function and neurotransmission in the brain. Although the mechanism of psychostimulants is still unknown, it is known that these substances increase extracellular level of several neurotransmitters including dopamine (DA), serotonin, and norepinephrine by competing with monoamine transporters and can induce physical tolerance and dependence. In addition to this, recent findings also suggest that psychostimulants may damage brain neurons through mechanisms that are still under investigation. In the recent years, it has been demonstrated that almost all psychostimulants are able to affect a class of proteins, called neurotrophins, in the peripheral and central nervous system (CNS). Neurotrophins, such as nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), have relevant action on neurons involved in psychostimulant action, such as DA and serotonergic neurons, and can play dual roles: first, in neuronal survival and death, and, second, in activity-dependent plasticity. In this review, we will focalize on the effects of psychostimulants on this class of proteins, which may be implicated, at least in part, in the mechanism of the psychostimulant-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, since altered neurotrophins may participate in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders and psychiatric disorders are common in drug users, one plausible hypothesis is that psychostimulants can cause psychosis through interfering with neurotrophins synthesis and utilization by CNS neurons.

Psychostimulant-induced alterations in vesicular monoamine transporter-2 function: neurotoxic and therapeutic implications

The vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT-2) is an important regulator of intraneuronal monoamine concentrations and disposition as this protein sequesters critical cytoplasmic monoaminergic transmitters and contributes to their subsequent exocytotic release. This review primarily discusses the impact of psychoactive drugs (including those with abuse potential) on dopamine (DA)-related VMAT-2 and its function. In particular, the different responses by DA-related VMAT-2 and associated vesicles to plasmalemmal uptake blockers like methylphenidate and releasers like methamphetamine are presented. Recent preclinical findings suggest that vesicular transporter systems are highly regulatable, both by changes in localization as well as alterations in the kinetics of the VMAT-2 protein. The capacity for such shifts in VMAT-2 functions suggests the presence of physiological regulation that likely influences the activity of DA systems. In addition, these findings may contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of a variety of DA-related disorders such as substance abuse and Parkinson's disease and also suggest new therapeutic targets for treating such diseases.

Neurotoxic profiles of HIV, psychostimulant drugs of abuse, and their concerted effect on the brain: current status of dopamine system vulnerability in NeuroAIDS

There are roughly 30-40 million HIV-infected individuals in the world as of December 2007, and drug abuse directly contributes to one-third of all HIV infections in the United States. Antiretroviral therapy has increased the lifespan of HIV-seropositives, but CNS function often remains diminished, effectively decreasing quality of life. A modest proportion may develop HIV-associated dementia, the severity and progression of which is increased with drug abuse. HIV and drugs of abuse in the CNS target subcortical brain structures and DA systems in particular. This toxicity is mediated by a number of neurotoxic mechanisms, including but not limited to, aberrant immune response and oxidative stress. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies must be developed that can address a wide variety of disparate neurotoxic mechanisms and apoptotic cascades. This paper reviews the research pertaining to the where, what, and how of HIV and cocaine/methamphetamine toxicity in the CNS. Specifically, where these toxins most affect the brain, what aspects of the virus are neurotoxic, and how these toxins mediate neurotoxicity.

Differential regional effects of methamphetamine on dopamine transport

Multiple high-dose methamphetamine administrations cause long-lasting (>1 week) deficits in striatal dopaminergic neuronal function. This stimulant likewise causes rapid (within 1 h) and persistent (at least 48 h) decreases in activities of striatal: 1) dopamine transporters, as assessed in synaptosomes; and 2) vesicular monoamine transporter -2 (VMAT-2), as assessed in a non-membrane-associated (referred to herein as cytoplasmic) vesicular subcellular fraction. Importantly, not all brain areas are vulnerable to methamphetamine-induced long-lasting deficits. Similarly, the present study indicates that methamphetamine exerts differential acute effects on monoaminergic transporters according to brain region. In particular, results revealed that in the nucleus accumbens, methamphetamine rapidly, but reversibly (within 24 h), decreased plasmalemmal dopamine transporter function, without effect on plasmalemmal dopamine transporter immunoreactivity. Methamphetamine also rapidly and reversibly (within 48 h) decreased cytoplasmic VMAT-2 function in this region, with relatively little effect on cytoplasmic VMAT-2 immunoreactivity. In contrast, methamphetamine did not alter either dopamine transporter or VMAT-2 activity in the hypothalamus. Noteworthy, the nucleus accumbens and hypothalamus did not display the persistent long-lasting striatal dopamine depletions caused by the stimulant. Taken together, these data suggest that deficits in plasmalemmal and vesicular monoamine transporter activity lasting greater than 24-48 h may be linked to the long-lasting dopaminergic deficits caused by methamphetamine and appear to be region specific.

Methamphetamine influences on recognition memory: comparison of escalating and single-day dosing regimens

Methamphetamine (mAMPH) is an addictive drug that produces memory and recall impairments in humans. Animals subjected to a binge mAMPH dosing regimen that damages brain dopamine and serotonin terminals show impairments in an object recognition (OR) task. Earlier research demonstrated that preceding a single-day mAMPH binge regimen with several days of increasing mAMPH doses greatly attenuates its neurotoxicity in rats. The escalating dose (ED) paradigm appears to mimic the human pattern of escalating drug intake. The current aim was to test whether an ED plus binge mAMPH regimen produces OR impairments. In addition to its translational value, this experiment helps address whether monoaminergic neurotoxicity accounts for OR impairments seen after mAMPH administration. To further address this issue, a separate experiment investigated both OR impairments and monoamine transporter integrity in groups of rats treated with a range of mAMPH doses during a single day. An ED mAMPH regimen attenuated the acute hyperthermic response to the subsequent mAMPH binge and prevented the OR impairments and reductions in [125 I]RTI-55 binding to monoamine transporters in striatum, hippocampus (HC), and perirhinal cortex (pRh) that otherwise occur 1 week after the mAMPH binge. Single-day mAMPH regimens (4 x 1mg/kg to 4 x 4 mg/kg, s.c.) dose-dependently produced acute hyperthermia and, 1 week post-mAMPH, produced dose-dependent impairments in OR and reductions in monoamine transporter binding. The OR impairments of single-day mAMPH-treated rats correlated with monoaminergic transporter loss in ventral caudate-putamen, HC, and pRh. In aggregate, these findings suggest a correspondence between mAMPH-induced monoaminergic injury and the resulting OR deficits.

Impairments in timing, temporal memory, and reversal learning linked to neurotoxic regimens of methamphetamine intoxication

Methamphetamine intoxication has long-term consequences on dopaminergic function and corticostriatal-mediated behaviors in humans and other animals. In order to determine the potential impact on timing and temporal memory, we examined methamphetamine dose regimens that have been linked to neurotoxicity in adult (8 months) male rats. Rats that were given repetitive, high-dose methamphetamine (3.0 mg/kg ip x 4 injections/2 h) or saline injections were trained on a 2-s vs 8-s bisection procedure using auditory and visual signal durations. Following the high-dose regimen, baseline timing performance was reestablished prior to the rats' receiving reversal training in which the spatial/temporal mapping of the anchor durations (2 s and 8 s) to response options (left or right lever) was reversed. Low-dose methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg ip) or saline injections were subsequently used to evaluate the effectiveness of the neurotoxic doses in terms of modifying the horizontal leftward shifts associated with increases in clock speed. Overall, the results indicate that MAP intoxication leads to reduced auditory/visual differences in clock speed, deficits in reversal learning, distortions in temporal memory, and lowered dopaminergic regulation of clock speed consistent with damage to prefrontal cortex and corticostriatal circuitry.

Running is rewarding and antidepressive

Natural behaviors such as eating, drinking, reproduction and exercise activate brain reward pathways and consequently the individual engages in these behaviors to receive the reward. However, drugs of abuse are even more potent in activating the reward pathways. Rewarding behaviors and addictive drugs also affect other parts of the brain not directly involved in the mediation of reward. For instance, running increases neurogenesis in hippocampus and is beneficial as an antidepressant in a genetic animal model of depression and in depressed humans. Here we discuss and compare neurochemical and functional changes in the brain after addictive drugs and exercise with a focus on brain reward pathways and hippocampus.

Methamphetamine-induced alterations in monoamine transport: implications for neurotoxicity, neuroprotection and treatment

AIM

To review studies delineating the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine on monoamine transport in dopaminergic neurons of the striatum and nucleus accumbens.

METHOD

The scope of this review includes the English language dopamine transporter and vesicular monoamine transporter-2 primary literature to April 2006 identified by Pubmed, Science Citation Index and SciFinder Scholar literature searches.

RESULTS

Changes in the function of the plasmalemmal dopamine transporter and the vesicular monoamine transporter-2 are key components of methamphetamine-induced persistent dopaminergic deficits. These deficits include persistent reductions in dopamine content, dopamine transporter density and tyrosine hydroxylase activity. The striatum is susceptible to these effects of methamphetamine while the nucleus accumbens is resistant. Differences in dopamine transporter density and activity, extracellular dopamine levels and antioxidant levels in these two brain regions may, in part, account for the resistance of the nucleus accumbens.

CONCLUSION

These findings concerning the nature of methamphetamine-induced changes in plasmalemmal and vesicular dopamine transport have very important implications for drug targets and for understanding the etiology of dopaminergic neurodegenerative processes, such as those associated with methamphetamine addiction and Parkinson's disease.

Methamphetamine-induced neural and cognitive changes in rodents

AIMS

Although psychostimulant drug abuse carries with it several potential health risks, the chronic abuse of amphetamines carries the danger of permanent brain injury. The purpose of these experiments is to develop animal models to understand the long-lasting influences of methamphetamine exposure on cerebral cortex and cognitive function.

METHODS

The approach taken is to administer a regimen of methamphetamine known to be neurotoxic to dopamine and serotonin nerve terminals in the rat, and to investigate the influences of that dosing regimen on (i) cortical neuron integrity and function using anatomical stains and (ii) novel object recognition memory.

RESULTS

In rodents, repeated administration of methamphetamine during a single day produces long-lasting damage to striatal dopamine and forebrain serotonin terminals as well as degeneration of somatosensory cortical neurons. The degeneration of somatosensory cortical neurons may represent only the most visible form of long-term deleterious effects on cerebral cortex, as exposure of rats to methamphetamine can reduce the immediate early gene responses of neurons in widespread cortical areas, even long after exposure to the drug. Together with the death and long-lasting functional impairments of cortical neurons, rats exposed to methamphetamine have impaired cognitive function. When tested for object recognition memory, methamphetamine-treated rats show deficiencies lasting for at least 3 weeks after drug exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a rodent model, these findings provide an avenue to study the cortical influences of methamphetamine and their cognitive sequelae.

Voluntary exercise and tail shock have differential effects on amphetamine-induced dopaminergic toxicity in adult BALB/c mice

Exercise exerts neuroprotective effects and facilitates neural recovery in animal models of Parkinson's disease. In the present studies, effects of exercise on amphetamine-induced dopaminergic toxicity were assessed in mice housed individually either with or without access to run wheels. Mice in run wheel cages ran approximately 20 000 revolutions/day (over 10 km/day). Some mice received amphetamine (18.5 mg/kg x 4 injections) whereas controls received saline. Amphetamine caused a 90% dopamine depletion in mice housed either with or without run wheels. A precipitous drop was seen in run wheel activity following amphetamine, lasting at least 7 days. A significant decrease in food intake, water intake and body weight also occurred. The opportunity to exercise did not facilitate behavioral or neurochemical recovery at 1, 2 or 3 days, or 2 weeks after injections. Therefore, shock stress, a component of some forced exercise studies, was evaluated to determine whether stress without exercise provided neuroprotection against amphetamine. Results indicate that shock stress exerted neuroprotective effects, reducing the amphetamine-induced dopamine depletion. It is concluded that voluntary running does not afford either behavioral or neuroprotection nor facilitate recovery from amphetamine-induced dopaminergic toxicity; rather, elevated glucocorticoid levels following shock stress were associated with a reduction in the dopamine depletion.

Changes in Antioxidant Defense Enzymes after d-amphetamine Exposure: Implications as an Animal Model of Mania

Studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress is associated with amphetamine-induced neurotoxicity, but little is known about the adaptations of antioxidant enzymes in the brain after amphetamine exposure. We studied the effects of acute and chronic amphetamine administration on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, in a rodent model of mania. Male Wistar rats received either a single IP injection of D-: amphetamine (1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, or 4 mg/kg) or vehicle (acute treatment). In the chronic treatment rats received a daily IP injection of either D-: amphetamine (1 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg, or 4 mg/kg) or vehicle for 7 days. Locomotor behavior was assessed using the open field test. SOD and CAT activities were measured in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. Acute and to a greater extent chronic amphetamine treatment increased locomotor behavior and affected SOD and CAT activities in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum. Our findings suggest that amphetamine exposure is associated with an imbalance between SOD and CAT activity in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum.

Long-term effects of a single adult methamphetamine challenge: minor impact on dopamine fibre density in limbic brain areas of gerbils

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to test long-term effects of (+)-methamphetamine (MA) on the dopamine (DA) innervation in limbo-cortical regions of adult gerbils, in order to understand better the repair and neuroplasticity in disturbed limbic networks.

METHODS

Male gerbils received a single high dose of either MA (25 mg/kg i.p.) or saline on postnatal day 180. On postnatal day 340 the density of immunoreactive DA fibres and calbindin and parvalbumin cells was quantified in the right hemisphere.

RESULTS

No effects were found in the prefrontal cortex, olfactory tubercle and amygdala, whereas the pharmacological impact induced a slight but significant DA hyperinnervation in the nucleus accumbens. The cell densities of calbindin (CB) and parvalbumin (PV) positive neurons were additionally tested in the nucleus accumbens, but no significant effects were found. The present results contrast with the previously published long-term effects of early postnatal MA treatment that lead to a restraint of the maturation of DA fibres in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex and a concomitant overshoot innervation in the amygdala.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the morphogenetic properties of MA change during maturation and aging of gerbils, which may be due to physiological alterations of maturing vs. mature DA neurons innervating subcortical and cortical limbic areas. Our findings, together with results from other long-term studies, suggest that immature limbic structures are more vulnerable to persistent effects of a single MA intoxication; this might be relevant for the assessment of drug experience in adults vs. adolescents, and drug prevention programs.

Impaired object recognition memory following methamphetamine, but not p-chloroamphetamine- or d-amphetamine-induced neurotoxicity

Repeated moderate doses of methamphetamine (mAMPH) damage forebrain monoaminergic terminals and nonmonoaminergic cells in somatosensory cortex, and impair performance in a novelty preference task of object recognition (OR). This study aimed to determine whether the memory deficit seen after a neurotoxic mAMPH regimen results from damage to dopamine (DA) and/or serotonin (5-HT) terminals. Animals were given a neurotoxic regimen of mAMPH, p-chloroamphetamine (PCA, preferentially damages 5-HT terminals), d-amphetamine (d-AMPH, preferentially damages DA terminals), or saline. After 1 week, animals were trained and tested for OR memory. Rats treated with mAMPH showed no recognition memory during the short-term memory (STM) test, whereas both PCA- and d-AMPH-treated rats showed OR STM scores comparable to controls. After behavioral testing, the specificity of monoaminergic lesions was determined by postmortem [125I]RTI-55 binding to dopamine (DAT) and serotonin (SERT) transporter proteins. Tissue from a separate group of animals killed 3 days after drug treatment was processed for Fluoro-Jade (F-J) fluorescence histochemistry to detect damaged cortical neurons. mAMPH-treated rats showed reductions in striatal DAT and hippocampal (HC) and perirhinal (pRh) SERT, as well as degeneration of neurons in primary somatosensory cortex. In PCA-treated rats, HC and pRh SERT were substantially depleted, but striatal DAT and cortical neuron survival were unaffected. By contrast, d-AMPH-treated animals showed marked depletions in striatal DAT and cortical neurodegeneration, but HC and pRh SERT were unaffected. This pattern of results indicates that no single feature of mAMPH-induced neurotoxicity is sufficient to produce the OR impairments seen after mAMPH treatment.

Bupropion increases striatal vesicular monoamine transport

The vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT-2) is principally involved in regulating cytoplasmic dopamine (DA) concentrations within terminals by sequestering free DA into synaptic vesicles. This laboratory previously identified a correlation between striatal vesicular DA uptake through VMAT-2 and inhibition of the DA transporter (DAT). For example, administration of methylphenidate (MPD), a DAT inhibitor, increases vesicular DA uptake through VMAT-2 in a purified vesicular preparation; an effect associated with a redistribution of VMAT-2 protein within DA terminals. The purpose of this study was to determine if other DAT inhibitors, including bupropion, similarly affect VMAT-2. Results revealed bupropion rapidly, reversibly, and dose-dependently increased vesicular DA uptake; an effect also associated with VMAT-2 protein redistribution. The bupropion-induced increase in vesicular DA uptake was prevented by pretreatment with eticlopride, a DA D2 receptor antagonist, but not by SCH23390, a DA D1 receptor antagonist. We previously reported that MPD post-treatment prevents persistent DA deficits associated with multiple methamphetamine (METH) administrations. Although bupropion attenuated the METH-induced reduction in VMAT-2 activity acutely, it did not prevent the long-term dopaminergic toxicity or the METH-induced redistribution of VMAT-2 protein. The findings from this study demonstrate similarities and differences in the mechanism by which MPD and bupropion affect striatal dopaminergic nerve terminals.

High-dose methamphetamine acutely activates the striatonigral pathway to increase striatal glutamate and mediate long-term dopamine toxicity

Methamphetamine (METH) has been shown to increase the extracellular concentrations of both dopamine (DA) and glutamate (GLU) in the striatum. Dopamine, glutamate, or their combined effects have been hypothesized to mediate striatal DA nerve terminal damage. Although it is known that METH releases DA via reverse transport, it is not known how METH increases the release of GLU. We hypothesized that METH increases GLU indirectly via activation of the basal ganglia output pathways. METH increased striatonigral GABAergic transmission, as evidenced by increased striatal GAD65 mRNA expression and extracellular GABA concentrations in substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr). The METH-induced increase in nigral extracellular GABA concentrations was D1 receptor-dependent because intranigral perfusion of the D1 DA antagonist SCH23390 (10 microm) attenuated the METH-induced increase in GABA release in the SNr. Additionally, METH decreased extracellular GABA concentrations in the ventromedial thalamus (VM). Intranigral perfusion of the GABA-A receptor antagonist, bicuculline (10 microm), blocked the METH-induced decrease in extracellular GABA in the VM and the METH-induced increase in striatal GLU. Intranigral perfusion of either a DA D1 or GABA-A receptor antagonist during the systemic administrations of METH attenuated the striatal DA depletions when measured 1 week later. These results show that METH enhances D1-mediated striatonigral GABAergic transmission (1), which in turn activates GABA-A receptors in the SNr (2), leading to a decrease in GABAergic nigrothalamic activity (3), an increase in corticostriatal GLU release (4), and a consequent long-term depletion of striatal DA content (5).

Prolonged exposure of rats to intravenous methamphetamine: behavioral and neurochemical characterization

The translational value of preclinical models of methamphetamine abuse depends in large part on the degree to which the drug regimens used in animals produce methamphetamine exposure patterns similar to those experienced by human methamphetamine abusers. To approximate one common form of methamphetamine abuse, we studied the effects of a schedule of intravenous methamphetamine administration in rats which included 2 weeks of progressively more frequent drug injections (0.125 mg/kg/injection) followed by 40 maintenance days during which animals received 40 daily injections (at 15-min intervals), with the dose gradually increasing (0.125-0.25 mg/kg per injection) every 5-10 days. This treatment produced an emerging behavioral profile characterized by gradually more continuous periods of activation consisting of progressively more intense, focused stereotypy interrupted by episodic bursts of locomotion. We also assessed markers of dopamine neurotransmission (dopamine transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter, and dopamine D1 and D2 receptors) at 15 min and (including dopamine levels) at 6 and 30 days following cessation of methamphetamine treatment. All dopamine components measured in caudate-putamen were significantly reduced at 15 min and 6 days after the final methamphetamine injection. Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors fully recovered after 30 days of drug abstinence, whereas dopamine and the dopamine transporter exhibited significant but incomplete recovery by this time point. In contrast, only the vesicular monoamine transporter exhibited no evidence of recovery over the 30-day withdrawal period. These data are discussed in terms of damage to dopamine terminals and compensatory adjustments in mechanisms maintaining functional dopaminergic transmission.

Neurotoxic regimens of methamphetamine induce persistent expression of phospho-c-Jun in somatosensory cortex and substantia nigra

Repeated systemic administration of moderate doses of methamphetamine (mAMPH) can result in neuronal damage. In addition to the prominent damage of forebrain dopamine and serotonin terminals, mAMPH also injures certain non-monoaminergic neuronal somata in the cerebral cortex. In previous studies, we have localized the damaged neurons to the "whisker barrels" in primary somatosensory cortex, reported the time course of their appearance, and found that sensory inputs from the mystacial vibrissae appear to play a crucial role in the mechanism of their injury by mAMPH. One common feature of these studies is that they used a single marker for neuronal injury, the fluorochrome dye Fluoro-Jade, which stains neurons injured by disparate mechanisms. Here we compare mAMPH-induced damage to somatosensory cortical neurons as assessed by Fluoro-Jade and immunohistochemical staining for phospho-c-Jun. A neurotoxic regimen of mAMPH induced phospho-c-Jun-positive neurons in both cortical whisker barrels and the substantia nigra. Neurons in the barrel cortex can be sufficiently damaged by mAMPH that they become Fluoro-Jade-positive within 2 hr after the final mAMPH injection. By contrast, phospho-c-Jun immunoreactivity does not appear until 12-24 hr after mAMPH. As reported in an earlier study, unilateral removal of vibrissae prior to mAMPH treatment affords partial protection from injury in the hemisphere contralateral to the vibrissotomy. The vibrissotomized animals show similar decreases in Fluoro-Jade staining and phospho-c-Jun immunoreactivity in the protected hemisphere. Since phospho-c-Jun indicates activation of Jun N-terminal kinase pathways, which have been implicated in apoptosis, we conclude that phospho-c-Jun provides a useful new marker for mAMPH-induced damage to cortical neurons.

Microglial activation precedes dopamine terminal pathology in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity

Previous studies have demonstrated methamphetamine (METH)-induced toxicity to dopaminergic and serotonergic axons in rat striatum. Although several studies have identified the nature of reactive astrogliosis in this lesion model, the response of microglia has not been examined in detail. In this investigation, we characterized the temporal relationship of reactive microgliosis to neuropathological alterations of dopaminergic axons in striatum following exposure to methamphetamine. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered a neurotoxic regimen of methamphetamine and survived 12 h, or 1, 2, 4, and 6 days after treatment. Immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate reactive changes in microglia throughout the brain of methamphetamine-treated rats, with a particular focus upon striatum. Pronounced morphological changes, indicative of reactive microgliosis, were evident in the brains of all methamphetamine-treated animals and were absent in saline-treated control animals. These included hyperplastic changes in cell morphology that substantially increased the size and staining intensity of reactive microglia. Quantitative analysis of reactive microglial changes in striatum demonstrated that these changes were most robust within the ventrolateral region and were maximal 2 days after methamphetamine administration. Analysis of tissue also revealed that microglial activation preceded the appearance of pathological changes in striatal dopamine fibers. Reactive microgliosis was also observed in extra-striatal regions (somatosensory and piriform cortices, and periaqueductal gray). These data demonstrate a consistent, robust, and selective activation of microglia in response to methamphetamine administration that, at least in striatum, precedes the appearance of morphological indicators of axon pathology. These observations raise the possibility that activated microglia may contribute to methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity.

Vulnerabilities of ventral mesencephalic neurons projecting to the nucleus accumbens following infusions of 6-hydroxydopamine into the medial forebrain bundle in the rat

The terminal arbors of dopaminergic projections in the nucleus accumbens (Acb) core degenerate more rapidly, completely and permanently in a variety of neurotoxic circumstances than do those in the medial shell. It is unknown if this always reflects purely losses of the distal parts of axons from the core (as proposed in methamphetamine intoxication), or whether, in some circumstances, the disproportionate loss of core axons may also stem from an intrinsic vulnerability to degeneration of core-projecting neuronal perikarya. Experiments described here addressed this issue in the following manner. Three days after Fluoro-Gold (FG), a retrogradely transported tracer, had been iontophoresed selectively into the core or medial shell of male Sprague-Dawley rats, each received an infusion of saline vehicle containing or lacking 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the ipsilateral medial forebrain bundle (MFB). Twenty-one days later the brains were processed to exhibit ventral mesencephalic neurons containing FG. Application of an unbiased sampling method revealed substantially greater losses of FG labeled neurons relative to controls in rats that had received 6-OHDA lesions and deposition of FG in the Acb core as compared to the medial shell. Of the few core-projecting neurons that remained in the ventral mesencephalon after these lesions, 54% did not co-localize tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH-ir) and, thus, were not expected to degenerate. The capacity to selectively remove core-projecting dopaminergic neurons may be useful in the determination of molecular correlates of vulnerability and resistance to neurotoxicity and to possibly test the role of the core in reinforcement paradigms.

Chronic treatment with atypical neuroleptics induces striosomal FosB/DeltaFosB expression in rats

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that neuroleptics regulate expression of the transcription factor FosB/DeltaFosB in the striatum, including the accumbens and caudate-putamen; however, the striatum is also divided into another structural dimension, the striosome and matrix compartments. The precise distribution of FosB/DeltaFosB induced by chronic neuroleptics in these striatal compartments is poorly understood.

METHODS

Rats received either single acute injections or chronic injections of clozapine (0 or 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [IP]), olanzapine (0 or 5 mg/kg, IP), or haloperidol (0 or 1.5 mg/kg, IP) for 25 days. The levels and compartmental distribution of FosB/DeltaFosB were examined.

RESULTS

Chronic clozapine induced clustered FosB/DeltaFosB expression within striosomes of the caudate-putamen. This pattern was due to increased levels of FosB/DeltaFosB in striosomes within the ventrolateral caudate-putamen and reduced levels of basal FosB/DeltaFosB in the matrix in the entire caudate-putamen. In contrast, chronic haloperidol increased FosB/DeltaFosB equally within the matrix and striosomes throughout the entire caudate-putamen. Chronic olanzapine induced an intermediate pattern.

CONCLUSIONS

The relative absence of FosB/DeltaFosB expression in the matrix correlates with the lack of parkinsonism of atypical neuroleptics. Expression of FosB/DeltaFosB in the matrix may contribute to parkinsonism of typical neuroleptics.