Differential regulation of immediate-early gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of rats with a high vs low behavioral response to methamphetamine

Downregulation of microRNA-330-5p induces manic-like behaviors in REM sleep-deprived rats by enhancing tyrosine hydroxylase expression

AIM

In our pilot study, we found an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) mRNA expression in the prefrontal cortex of 72-h REM sleep-deprived (SD) rats, a mania model. Additionally, the expression levels of miR-325-3p, miR-326-3p, and miR-330-5p, the predicted target miRNAs on TH, were significantly decreased. Based on these results, in this study, we investigated whether miRNA-325-3p, miR-326-3p, and miR-330-5p modulate TH and manic-like behaviors in SD rats.

METHODS

Manic-like behaviors were assessed using the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus-maze (EPM) test. The direct binding activity of miRNAs to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the Th gene was measured in HEK-293 cells using a luciferase reporter system. We also examined mRNA and protein expression of TH after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of miR-330-5p agomir to SD rats, along with manic-like behaviors.

RESULTS

We observed an upregulation in mRNA and protein expression of TH and downregulation in miRNA-325-3p, miR-326-3p, and miR-330-5p expressions in the prefrontal cortex of SD rats, together with increased manic-like behaviors. The luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-330-5p could repress TH expression through direct binding to its target site in the 3'-UTR of Th, whereas miR-326-3p and miR-330-5p could not. In addition, ICV injection of miR-330-5p agomir alleviated the increase in TH expression in the prefrontal cortex of SD rats and manic-like behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

TH expression regulation through miR-330-5p may be implicated in the pathophysiology of mania in SD rats.

The differential vulnerabilities of Per2 knockout mice to the addictive properties of methamphetamine and cocaine

With the pervasive occurrence of substance abuse worldwide, unraveling the neuropharmacology of drugs of abuse, such as psychostimulants, is undeniably essential. Mice lacking Period 2 (Per2), a gene associated with the biological time-regulating system or circadian rhythm, have been proposed as a potential animal model for drug abuse vulnerability, demonstrating a greater preference for methamphetamine (METH) reward than wild-type (WT) mice. However, the responses of Per2 knockout (KO) mice to the reinforcing effects of METH or other psychostimulants are yet to be established. In this study, the responses of WT and Per2 KO mice to various psychostimulants via intravenous self-administration were determined, along with their behaviors in METH- or cocaine (COC)-induced conditioned place preference and spontaneous locomotion in the open-field test. Per2 KO mice exhibited greater addiction-like responses to METH and 5-EAPB (1-(1-benzofuran-5-yl)-N-ethylpropan-2-amine), but their responses to COC and dimethocaine were comparable to WT mice, indicating a divergent influence of Per2 deficiency on abuse susceptibility to specific psychostimulants. To potentially define the underlying mechanism for this phenotype, 19 differentially expressed genes were identified, through RNA sequencing, which might respond specifically to repeated METH, but not COC, administration in the mouse striatum and were narrowed down to those previously associated with immediate early genes or synaptic plasticity. The correlation between locomotor activity and mRNA expression levels revealed a moderate correlation between METH-induced behavior and Arc or Junb expression in Per2 KO mice only, suggesting their essential role that may lead to the higher vulnerability of Per2 KO mice to METH, but not COC. These findings indicate a potentially unique effect of Per2 expression level on the involvement of Arc and Junb in determining specific vulnerabilities to drugs, and possibly including abuse potential.

Schizophrenia-like behavior is not altered by melatonin supplementation in rodents

An emerging area in schizophrenia research focuses on the impact of immunomodulatory drugs such as melatonin, which have played important roles in many biological systems and functions, and appears to be promising. The objective was to evaluate the effect of melatonin on behavioral parameters in an animal model of schizophrenia. For this, Wistar rats were divided and used in two different protocols. In the prevention protocol, the animals received 1 or 10mg/kg of melatonin or water for 14 days, and between the 8th and 14th day they received ketamine or saline. In the reversal protocol, the opposite occurred. On the 14th day, the animals underwent behavioral tests: locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition task. In both protocols, the results revealed that ketamine had effects on locomotor activity and prepulse inhibition, confirming the validity of ketamine construction as a good animal model of schizophrenia. However, at least at the doses used, melatonin was not able to reverse/prevent ketamine damage. More studies are necessary to evaluate the role of melatonin as an adjuvant treatment in psychiatric disorders.

Influence of Prenatal Methamphetamine Abuse on the Brain

Methamphetamine (MA), a psychostimulant, has become a serious problem in recent years. It is one of the most widely abused psychostimulants in the world. In the Czech Republic, ecstasy is the most commonly used non-cannabis drug, followed by hallucinogenic fungi, LSD, MA, cocaine, and finally heroin. The prevalence of the usage of all addictive substances is highest in the age category of 15-34. Approximately 17.2% of registered drug addicts, both male and female, in the Czech Republic use MA as their first-choice drug. This group consists mostly of women who are unemployed and addicted to MA (85%). Almost half of the addicted women switched to MA from other drugs in the course of pregnancy. Psychostimulants such as amphetamine and its synthetic derivate MA induce feelings of calm and happiness by suppressing anxiety and depression. When MA is abused for longer periods, it mimics symptoms of mania and can lead to the development of psychosis. MA is often abused for its anorectic effect, its simple preparation, and compared to heroin and cocaine, its low price. There are significant differences in the susceptibility of users to the stimulant, with reactions to MA fluctuating from person to person. Molecular mechanisms related to the variable response among users might represent an explanation for increased addiction-associated bipolar disorder and psychosis. Currently, there is limited information regarding genetic mechanisms linked to these disorders and the transmission of drug addiction. As such, animal models of drug addiction represent significant sources of information and assets in the research of these issues. The aim of this review is to summarize the mechanism of action of methamphetamine and its effect on pregnant addicted women and their children, including a detailed description of the anatomical structures involved.

Prenatal Exposure to Methamphetamine: Up-Regulation of Brain Receptor Genes

Methamphetamine (METH) is a widespread illicit drug. If it is taken by pregnant women, it passes through the placenta and just as it affects the mother, it can impair the development of the offspring. The aim of our study was to identify candidates to investigate for changes in the gene expression in the specific regions of the brain associated with addiction to METH in rats. We examined the various areas of the central nervous system (striatum, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex) for signs of impairment in postnatal day 80 in experimental rats, whose mothers had been administered METH (5 mg/kg/day) during the entire gestation period. Changes in the gene expression at the mRNA level were determined by two techniques, microarray and real-time PCR. Results of two microarray trials were evaluated by LIMMA analysis. The first microarray trial detected either up-regulated or down-regulated expression of 2189 genes in the striatum; the second microarray trial detected either up-regulated or down-regulated expression of 1344 genes in the hippocampus of prenatally METH-exposed rats. We examined the expression of 10 genes using the real-time PCR technique. Differences in the gene expression were counted by the Mann–Whitney U-test. Significant changes were observed in the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript prepropeptide, tachykinin receptor 3, dopamine receptor D3 gene expression in the striatum regions, in the glucocorticoid nuclear receptor Nr3c1 gene expression in the prefrontal cortex and in the carboxylesterase 2 gene expression in the hippocampus of prenatally METH-exposed rats. The microarray technique also detected up-regulated expression of trace amine-associated receptor 7 h gene in the hippocampus of prenatally METH-exposed rats. We have identified susceptible genes; candidates for the study of an impairment related to methamphetamine addiction in the specific regions of the brain.

Significance of protein kinase C in the neuropsychotoxicity induced by methamphetamine-like psychostimulants

The abuse of methamphetamine (MA), an amphetamine (AMPH)-type stimulant, has been demonstrated to be associated with various neuropsychotoxicity, including memory impairment, psychiatric morbidity, and dopaminergic toxicity. Compelling evidence from preclinical studies has indicated that protein kinase C (PKC), a large family of serine/threonine protein kinases, plays an important role in MA-induced neuropsychotoxicity. PKC-mediated N-terminal phosphorylation of dopamine transporter has been identified as one of the prerequisites for MA-induced synaptic dopamine release. Consistently, it has been shown that PKC is involved in MA (or AMPH)-induced memory impairment and mania-like behaviors as well as MA drug dependence. Direct or indirect regulation of factors related to neuronal plasticity seemed to be critical for these actions of PKC. In addition, PKC-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress or impaired antioxidant defense system has been suggested to play a role in psychiatric and cognitive disturbance induced by MA (or AMPH). In MA-induced dopaminergic toxicity, particularly PKCδ has been shown to trigger oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, pro-apoptotic changes, and neuroinflammation. Importantly, PKCδ may be a key mediator in the positive feedback loop composed of these detrimental events to potentiate MA-induced dopaminergic toxicity. This review outlines the role of PKC and its individual isozymes in MA-induced neuropsychotoxicity. Better understanding on the molecular mechanism of PKCs might provide a great insight for the development of potential therapeutic or preventive candidates for MA (or AMPH)-associated neuropsychotoxicity.

Expression of immediate early genes in brain reward circuitries: Differential regulation by psychostimulant and opioid drugs

Although some of the clinical manifestations of substance use disorders might be superficially similar, it is highly likely that different classes of abused drugs including opioids (heroin, morphine, and oxycodone, other opioids) and psychostimulants (cocaine and amphetamines) cause different neuroadaptations in various brain regions dependent in the distribution and concentration of their biochemical sites of actions. In fact, different molecular networks are indeed impacted by acute and chronic administration of addictive substances. Some of the genes whose expression is influenced by the administration of these substances are immediate-early genes (IEGs). IEGs include classes of low expression genes that can become very highly induced within seconds or minutes of activation by endogenous or exogenous stimuli. These IEGs might play important roles in activating target genes that regulate adaptations implicated in the behavioral manifestations diagnosed as addiction. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide an overview of recent data on the effects of psychostimulants and opioids on IEG expression in the brain. The review documents some contrasting effects of these classes of drugs on gene expression and indicates that further studies are necessary to identify the specific effects of each drug class when trying to predict clinical responses to therapeutic agents.

Chronic methamphetamine treatment reduces the expression of synaptic plasticity genes and changes their DNA methylation status in the mouse brain

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive psychostimulant that may cause long-lasting synaptic dysfunction and abnormal gene expression. We aimed to explore the differential expression of synaptic plasticity genes in chronic METH-treated mouse brain. We used the RT(2) Profiler PCR Array and the real-time quantitative PCR to characterize differentially expressed synaptic plasticity genes in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of chronic METH-treated mice compared with normal saline-treated mice. We further used pyrosequencing to assess DNA methylation changes in the CpG region of the five immediate early genes (IEGs) in chronic METH-treated mouse brain. We detected six downregulated genes in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of chronic METH-treated mice, including five IEGs (Arc, Egr2, Fos, Klf10, and Nr4a1) and one neuronal receptor gene (Grm1), compared with normal saline-treated group, but only four genes (Arc, Egr2, Fos, and Nr4a1) were confirmed to be different. Furthermore, we found several CpG sites of the Arc and the Fos that had significant changes in DNA methylation status in the frontal cortex of chronic METH-treated mice, while the klf10 and the Nr4a1 that had significant changes in the hippocampus. Our results show that chronic administration of METH may lead to significant downregulation of the IEGs expression in both the frontal cortex and the hippocampus, which may partly account for the molecular mechanism of the action of METH. Furthermore, the changes in DNA methylation status of the IEGs in the brain indicate that an epigenetic mechanism-dependent transcriptional regulation may contribute to METH addiction, which warrants additional study.

Social defeat stress-induced sensitization and escalated cocaine self-administration: the role of ERK signaling in the rat ventral tegmental area

RATIONALE

Intermittent social defeat stress can induce neuroadaptations that promote compulsive drug taking. Within the mesocorticolimbic circuit, repeated cocaine administration activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK).

OBJECTIVE

The present experiments examine whether changes in ERK phosphorylation are necessary for the behavioral and neural adaptations that occur as a consequence of intermittent defeat stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were exposed to four brief intermittent defeats over the course of 10 days. Ten days after the last defeat, rats were challenged with cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline, and ERK activity was examined in mesocorticolimbic regions. To determine the role of ERK in defeat stress-induced behavioral sensitization, we bilaterally microinjected the MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor U0126 (1 μg/side) or vehicle (20 % DMSO) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) prior to each of four defeats. Ten days following the last defeat, locomotor activity was assessed for the expression of behavioral cross-sensitization to cocaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). Thereafter, rats self-administered cocaine under fixed and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement, including a 24-h continuous access "binge" (0.3 mg/kg/infusion).

RESULTS

We found that repeated defeat stress increased ERK phosphorylation in the VTA. Inhibition of VTA ERK prior to each social defeat attenuated the development of stress-induced sensitization and prevented stress-induced enhancement of cocaine self-administration during a continuous access binge.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that enhanced activation of ERK in the VTA due to brief defeats is critical in the induction of sensitization and escalated cocaine taking.

Schizophrenia and Depression Co-Morbidity: What We have Learned from Animal Models

Patients with schizophrenia are at an increased risk for the development of depression. Overlap in the symptoms and genetic risk factors between the two disorders suggests a common etiological mechanism may underlie the presentation of comorbid depression in schizophrenia. Understanding these shared mechanisms will be important in informing the development of new treatments. Rodent models are powerful tools for understanding gene function as it relates to behavior. Examining rodent models relevant to both schizophrenia and depression reveals a number of common mechanisms. Current models which demonstrate endophenotypes of both schizophrenia and depression are reviewed here, including models of CUB and SUSHI multiple domains 1, PDZ and LIM domain 5, glutamate Delta 1 receptor, diabetic db/db mice, neuropeptide Y, disrupted in schizophrenia 1, and its interacting partners, reelin, maternal immune activation, and social isolation. Neurotransmission, brain connectivity, the immune system, the environment, and metabolism emerge as potential common mechanisms linking these models and potentially explaining comorbid depression in schizophrenia.

Methamphetamine alters reference gene expression in nigra and striatum of adult rat brain

The nigrostriatal dopaminergic system is a major lesion target for methamphetamine (MA), one of the most addictive and neurotoxic drugs of abuse. High doses of MA alter the expression of a large number of genes. Reference genes (RGs) are considered relatively stable and are often used as standards for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) reactions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MA altered the expression of RGs and to identify the appropriate RGs for gene expression studies in animals receiving MA. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with high doses of MA or saline. Striatum and substantia nigra were harvested at 2h or 24h after MA administration. The expression and stability of 10 commonly used RGs were examined using qRT-PCR and then evaluated by geNorm and Normfinder. We found that MA altered the expression of selected RGs. These candidate RGs presented differential stability in the striatum and in substantia nigra at both 2h and 24h after MA injection. Selection of an unstable RG as a standard altered the significance of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA expression after MA administration. In conclusion, our data show that MA site- and time-dependently altered the expression of RGs in nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. These temporal and spatial factors should be considered when selecting appropriate RGs for interpreting the expression of target genes in animals receiving MA.

9-Cis retinoic acid protects against methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity in nigrostriatal dopamine neurons

Methamphetamine (MA) is a drug of abuse as well as a dopaminergic neurotoxin. 9-Cis retinoic acid (9cRA), a biologically active derivative of vitamin A, has protective effects against damage caused by H(2)O(2) and oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro as well as infarction and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dNTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) labeling in ischemic brain. The purpose of this study was to examine if there was a protective role for 9cRA against MA toxicity in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Primary dopaminergic neurons, prepared from rat embryonic ventral mesencephalic tissue, were treated with MA. High doses of MA decreased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity while increasing TUNEL labeling. These toxicities were significantly reduced by 9cRA. 9cRA also inhibited the export of Nur77 from nucleus to cytosol, a response that activates apoptosis. The interaction of 9cRA and MA in vivo was next examined in adult rats. 9cRA was delivered intracerebroventricularly; MA was given (5 mg/kg, 4×) one day later. Locomotor behavior was measured 2 days after surgery for a period of 48 h. High doses of MA significantly reduced locomotor activity and TH immunoreactivity in striatum. Administration of 9cRA antagonized these changes. Previous studies have shown that 9cRA can induce bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7) expression and that administration of BMP7 attenuates MA toxicity. We demonstrated that MA treatment significantly reduced BMP7 mRNA expression in nigra. Noggin (a BMP antagonist) antagonized 9cRA-induced behavioral recovery and 9cRA-induced normalization of striatal TH levels. Our data suggest that 9cRA has a protective effect against MA-mediated neurodegeneration in dopaminergic neurons via upregulation of BMP.

Striatal patch compartment lesions alter methamphetamine-induced behavior and immediate early gene expression in the striatum, substantia nigra and frontal cortex

Methamphetamine (METH) induces stereotypy, which is characterized as inflexible, repetitive behavior. Enhanced activation of the patch compartment of the striatum has been correlated with stereotypy, suggesting that stereotypy may be related to preferential activation of this region. However, the specific contribution of the patch compartment to METH-induced stereotypy is not clear. To elucidate the involvement of the patch compartment to the development of METH-induced stereotypy, we determined if destruction of this sub-region altered METH-induced behaviors. Animals were bilaterally infused in the striatum with the neurotoxin dermorphin-saporin (DERM-SAP; 17 ng/μl) to specifically ablate the neurons of the patch compartment. Eight days later, animals were treated with METH (7.5 mg/kg), placed in activity chambers, observed for 2 h and killed. DERM-SAP pretreatment significantly reduced the number and total area of mu-labeled patches in the striatum. DERM-SAP pretreatment significantly reduced the intensity of METH-induced stereotypy and the spatial immobility typically observed with METH-induced stereotypy. In support of this observation, DERM-SAP pretreatment also significantly increased locomotor activity in METH-treated animals. In the striatum, DERM-SAP pretreatment attenuated METH-induced c-Fos expression in the patch compartment, while enhancing METH-induced c-Fos expression in the matrix compartment. DERM-SAP pretreatment followed by METH administration augmented c-Fos expression in the SNpc and reduced METH-induced c-Fos expression in the SNpr. In the medial prefrontal, but not sensorimotor cortex, c-Fos and zif/268 expression was increased following METH treatment in animals pre-treated with DERM-SAP. These data indicate that the patch compartment is necessary for the expression of repetitive behaviors and suggests that alterations in activity in the basal ganglia may contribute to this phenomenon.

Experimental evidence for the involvement of PDLIM5 in mood disorders in hetero knockout mice

Background

Reports indicate that PDLIM5 is involved in mood disorders. The PDLIM5 (PDZ and LIM domain 5) gene has been genetically associated with mood disorders; it’s expression is upregulated in the postmortem brains of patients with bipolar disorder and downregulated in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with major depression. Acute and chronic methamphetamine (METH) administration may model mania and the evolution of mania into psychotic mania or schizophrenia-like behavioral changes, respectively.

Methods

To address whether the downregulation of PDLIM5 protects against manic symptoms and cause susceptibility to depressive symptoms, we evaluated the effects of reduced Pdlim5 levels on acute and chronic METH-induced locomotor hyperactivity, prepulse inhibition, and forced swimming by using Pdlim5 hetero knockout (KO) mice.

Results

The homozygous KO of Pdlim5 is embryonic lethal. The effects of METH administration on locomotor hyperactivity and the impairment of prepulse inhibition were lower in Pdlim5 hetero KO mice than in wild-type mice. The transient inhibition of PDLIM5 (achieved by blocking the translocation of protein kinase C epsilon before the METH challenge) had a similar effect on behavior. Pdlim5 hetero KO mice showed increased immobility time in the forced swimming test, which was diminished after the chronic administration of imipramine. Chronic METH treatment increased, whereas chronic haloperidol treatment decreased, Pdlim5 mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex. Imipramine increased Pdlim5 mRNA levels in the hippocampus.

Conclusion

These findings are partially compatible with reported observations in humans, indicating that PDLIM5 is involved in psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders.

Minocycline: therapeutic potential in psychiatry

Pharmacological interventions to treat psychiatric illness have previously focused on modifying dysfunctional neurotransmitter systems to improve symptoms. However, imperfect understanding of the aetiology of these heterogeneous syndromes has been associated with poor treatment outcomes for many individuals. Growing evidence suggests that oxidative stress, inflammation, changes in glutamatergic pathways and neurotrophins play important roles in many psychiatric illnesses including mood disorders, schizophrenia and addiction. These novel insights into pathophysiology allow new treatment targets to be explored. Minocycline is an antibiotic that can modulate glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Given that these mechanisms overlap with the newly understood pathophysiological pathways, minocycline has potential as an adjunctive treatment in psychiatry. To date there have been promising clinical indications that minocycline may be a useful treatment in psychiatry, albeit from small trials most of which were not placebo controlled. Case reports of individuals with schizophrenia, psychotic symptoms and bipolar depression have shown serendipitous benefits of minocycline treatment on psychiatric symptoms. Minocycline has been trialled in open-label or small randomized controlled trials in psychiatry. Results vary, with findings supporting use in schizophrenia, but showing less benefit for nicotine dependence and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Given the limited data from rigorous clinical trials, further research is required. However, taken together, the current evidence suggests minocycline may be a promising novel therapy in psychiatry.

Blood natural killer cell cytotoxicity enhancement correlates with an increased activity in brain motor structures following chronic stimulation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in rats

The present study indicates that a chronic 14 day electrical stimulation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) increased blood but not spleen natural killer cell (NK) cytotoxicity and a large granular lymphocyte (LGL) number. These immune changes positively correlated with the increased activity in brain cortical and subcortical motor structures that influence the BST stimulation-induced behavioral response. No significant changes in blood and spleen leukocyte population numbers and plasma corticosterone concentration after the stimulation were found. The obtained results suggest that this immunoenhancing effect on blood NK cell function and number is dependent on the behavioral outcome of the BST stimulation rather than endocrine response.

Neurobehavioral and transcriptional effects of acrylamide in juvenile rats

Acrylamide is a type-2 alkene monomer with established human neurotoxic effects. While the primary source of human exposure to acrylamide is occupational, other exposure sources include food, drinking water, and smoking. In this study, neurobehavioral assays coupled with transcriptional profiling analysis were conducted to assess both behavioral and gene expression effects induced by acrylamide neurotoxicity in juvenile rats. Acrylamide administration in rat pups induced significant characteristic neurotoxic symptoms including increased heel splay, decrease in grip strength, and decrease in locomotor activity. Transcriptome analysis with the Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0 array indicated that acrylamide treatment caused a significant alteration in the expression of a few genes that are involved in muscle contraction, pain, and dopaminergic neuronal pathways. First, expression of the Mylpf gene involved in muscle contraction was downregulated in the spinal cord in response to acrylamide. Second, in sciatic nerves, acrylamide repressed the expression of the opioid receptor gene Oprk1 that is known to play a role in neuropathic pain regulation. Finally, in the cerebellum, acrylamide treatment caused a decrease in the expression of the nuclear receptor gene Nr4a2 that is required for development of dopaminergic neurons. Thus, our work examining the effect of acrylamide at the whole-genome level on a developmental mammalian model has identified a few genes previously not implicated in acrylamide neurotoxicity that might be further developed into biomarkers for assessing the risk of adverse health effects induced by acrylamide exposure.

Hippocampal CA1 region shows differential regulation of gene expression in mice displaying extremes in behavioral sensitization to amphetamine: relevance for psychosis susceptibility?

RATIONALE

Psychosis susceptibility is mediated in part by the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system. In humans, individual differences in vulnerability for psychosis are reflected in differential sensitivity for psychostimulants such as amphetamine. We hypothesize that the same genes and pathways underlying behavioral sensitization in mice are also involved in the vulnerability to psychosis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the current study was to investigate which genes and pathways may contribute to behavioral sensitization in different dopaminergic output areas in the mouse brain.

METHODS

We took advantage of the naturally occurring difference in psychostimulant sensitivity in DBA/2 mice and selected animals displaying extremes in behavioral sensitization to amphetamine. Subsequently, the dopamine output areas, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) area of the hippocampus, were isolated by laser microdissection and subjected to DNA microarray analysis 1 h after a challenge dose of amphetamine.

RESULTS

A large number of genes with differential expression between high and low responders were identified, with no overlap between brain regions. Validation of these gene expression changes with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that the most robust and reproducible effects on gene expression were in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Interestingly, many of the validated genes in CA1 are members of the cAMP response element (CRE) family and targets of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and myocyte enhancer factor 2 (Mef2) transcription factors.

CONCLUSION

We hypothesize that CRE, Mef2, and GR signaling form a transcription regulating network, which underlies differential amphetamine sensitivity, and therefore, may play an important role in susceptibility to psychosis.

Effect of bee venom acupuncture on methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity, hyperthermia and Fos expression in mice

Acupuncture has been used to treat drug addiction by nicotine, alcohol, cocaine and morphine. This study was designed to investigate the effect of bee venom (BV) acupuncture on hyperactivity and hyperthermia induced by acute exposure to methamphetamine (METH, 1mg/kg, s.c.) in mice. Diluted BV (20μl of 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10mg/ml in saline, s.c.) was administered bilaterally into the Zusanli acupoint (ST36) or control points (SP9 or GB39 or tail base). BV injection into ST36 dose dependently reduced METH-induced hyperactivity and hyperthermia, while BV injection (1mg/ml) into control points did not produce these suppressive effects. METH injection significantly increased Fos expression in several brain regions including nucleus accumbens (NA), caudate putamen (CPU), ventral tegmental area (VTA), substantia nigra (SN) and locus coeruleus (LC). Interestingly, BV (1mg/ml) injection into ST36 further increased METH-induced Fos expression in NA (core and shell), SN and LC. When we performed sciatic denervation or combination treatment of BV and lidocaine (BV diluted in 5% lidocaine solution), the enhancement of Fos elevation by BV was completely blocked in the NA, SN and LC in METH-injected mice, indicating that BV-induced peripheral nerve stimulation played an important role in the BV effect. Furthermore, the effects of BV were completely blocked by the α₂-adrenoceptor antagonist, idazoxan (3mg/kg, i.p.), but not by β-adrenoceptor antagonist, propranolol (10mg/kg, i.p.). Taken together, these findings suggest that BV acupuncture into ST36 may modulate METH-induced hyperactivity, hyperthermia and Fos expression through activation of the peripheral nerve and the central α₂-adrenergic activation.

Methamphetamine-induced expression of zif268 mRNA is prevented by haloperidol in mice lacking mu-opioid receptor

We investigated the role of mu-opioid receptor (mu-OR) and dopamine receptor in the modulation of methamphetamine (METH)-induced expression of zif268 mRNA in the striatum of mice. Four groups of wild-type and mu-OR knockout mice were given a single daily intraperitoneal injection of saline (control; group 1) or METH (10mg/kg; groups 2-4) for 7 consecutive days. On day 11 (after 4 abstinent days), groups 1 and 2 were challenged with saline, group 3 was challenged with METH (10mg/kg), and group 4 was challenged with dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol (0.06 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection) plus METH (10mg/kg). Two hours after the last saline or METH injection, mouse brain tissues were taken for zif268 mRNA analysis using in situ hybridization histochemistry. In comparison to corresponding saline control group (group 1), striatal zif268 mRNA levels were unchanged in group 2 and increased in group 3 in both wild-type and mu-OR knockout mice and without genotype difference. METH challenge-enhanced expression of zif268 mRNA was completely abolished by pre-administration of haloperidol (group 4) in mu-OR knockout mice but not in wild-type mice. The results suggest a crosstalk of the two neurotransmitter systems in modulation of METH-induced IEG expression, because only in mu-OR knockout mice in which dopamine receptors were blocked were METH-induced zif268 expression abolished. METH-induced zif268 expression was not altered in mu-OR knockout mice without blockade of dopamine receptors or wild-type mice with blockade of dopamine receptors.

Strain differences in the gating-disruptive effects of apomorphine: relationship to gene expression in nucleus accumbens signaling pathways

BACKGROUND

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle is a measure of sensorimotor gating that is deficient in certain psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats are more sensitive to PPI-disruptive effects of apomorphine (APO) at long interstimulus intervals (ISIs) (60-120 msec) and less sensitive to PPI-enhancing effects of APO at short ISIs (10-30 msec) compared with Long Evans (LE) rats.

METHODS

Prepulse inhibition was tested in SD and LE rats after APO (.5 mg/kg) or vehicle in a within- subject design and sacrificed 14 days later. Total RNA was extracted from the nucleus accumbens (NAC). Approximately 700 dopamine-relevant transcripts on the Affymetrix 230 2.0 microarray were analyzed.

RESULTS

As previously reported, SD rats exhibited greater APO-induced PPI deficits at long intervals and less APO-induced PPI enhancement at short intervals compared with LE rats. One hundred four genes exhibited significantly different NAC expression levels in these two strains. Pathway analysis revealed that many of these genes contribute to dopamine receptor signaling, synaptic long-term potentiation, or inositol phosphate metabolism. The expression of some genes significantly correlated with measures of APO-induced PPI sensitivity in either SD or LE rats. The expression of select genes was validated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in PPI APO sensitivity in SD versus LE rats are robust and reproducible and may be related to strain differences in the expression of genes that regulate signal transduction in the NAC. These genes could facilitate the identification of targets for ameliorating heritable gating deficits in brain disorders such as schizophrenia.

Interrupting activator protein-1 signaling in conscious rats can modify neuropeptide Y gene expression and feeding behavior of phenylpropanolamine

The mechanism for phenylpropanolamine (PPA)-induced anorexia has been attributed to its inhibitory action on hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY), an orexigenic agent abundant in the brain. However, molecular mechanisms behind this effect are not well known. In this study, we investigated whether activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling was involved. Rats were daily treated with PPA for 4 days. Changes in hypothalamic NPY, c-fos, c-jun, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1, and SOD-2 mRNA contents were measured and compared. Results showed that c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were increased following PPA treatment, which were relevant to a reduction in NPY mRNA level. To further determine if c-fos/c-jun genes were involved in PPA anorexia, infusions of antisense oligonucleotide into cerebroventricle were performed before daily PPA treatment in freely moving rats. Results showed that either c-fos or c-jun knock down could block PPA anorexia and restore NPY mRNA content to normal level. It is suggested that AP-1 signaling may participate in the central regulation of PPA-mediated appetite suppression via the modulation of NPY gene expression. Moreover, this modulation might be partly because of the neuroprotective effect of AP-1 since SOD gene was activated during PPA treatment.