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The antibiotic minocycline prevents methamphetamine-induced rewarding effects in mice

Yuko Fujita1, Shinsui Kunitachi, Masaomi Iyo

  • 1Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba, Japan.

Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|January 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The antibiotic minocycline reduced methamphetamine (METH) addiction's rewarding effects in mice. This suggests minocycline could be a potential treatment for METH addiction by lowering dopamine levels.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Addiction Research

Background:

  • Methamphetamine (METH) dependence is a significant human health issue with no current effective medication treatments.
  • Previous research indicated minocycline's potential to mitigate METH-induced behavioral and neurotoxic effects in animal models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of minocycline in blocking the rewarding effects of METH in mice.
  • To explore the neurochemical mechanisms underlying minocycline's potential anti-addiction properties.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm to assess METH-induced reward.
  • Employed in vivo microdialysis in free-moving mice to measure extracellular dopamine (DA) levels in the nucleus accumbens.

Main Results:

  • Minocycline (40 mg/kg) significantly attenuated METH (1.0 mg/kg)-induced place preference.
  • Minocycline administration markedly reduced the METH-induced increase in extracellular DA levels within the nucleus accumbens.

Conclusions:

  • Minocycline effectively blocks METH-induced rewarding effects in mice.
  • The observed effects are likely mediated by the down-regulation of extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens.
  • Minocycline shows promise as a therapeutic agent for treating METH-induced disorders.

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