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EFFECTS OF METHAMPHETAMINE ON LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY AND THALAMIC GENE EXPRESSION IN LEPTIN-DEFICIENT OBESE MICE
Betina González1,2,3,4, Candela González5, Verónica Bisagno3,4
1Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular "Dr. Héctor Maldonado", Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Translational Brain Rhythmicity
|September 19, 2017
Summary
Leptin deficiency in mice reduced methamphetamine responses and altered brain receptor expression. This suggests leptin influences locomotion and thalamocortical excitability, impacting drug responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Leptin, an adipose hormone, regulates energy balance and influences behavior via dopaminergic pathways.
- Leptin deficiency, modeled by ob/ob mice, causes obesity and diabetes, with altered leptin signaling.
- Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant affecting locomotion and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of leptin deficiency on methamphetamine-induced behavioral and neurochemical changes.
- To analyze the role of leptin in modulating locomotor activity and behavioral sensitization to METH.
- To examine alterations in somatosensory thalamic gene expression related to METH exposure in leptin-deficient mice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice as a model.
- Administered methamphetamine (METH) repeatedly over 7 days.
- Assessed locomotor activity and behavioral sensitization.
- Quantified mRNA expression of voltage-gated calcium channels and glutamatergic receptors in the somatosensory thalamus using RT-PCR.
Main Results:
- Ob/ob mice exhibited reduced locomotor responses to METH compared to controls.
- Behavioral sensitization to METH was attenuated in leptin-deficient mice.
- Enhanced mRNA expression of key voltage-gated and glutamate receptors was observed in the somatosensory thalamus of ob/ob mice.
Conclusions:
- Leptin deficiency significantly alters responses to methamphetamine, suggesting a role for leptin in psychostimulant effects.
- Leptin appears to modulate thalamocortical excitability and receptor expression in the somatosensory thalamus.
- These findings contribute to understanding leptin's neurobiological mechanisms in regulating behavior and drug responses.
