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Updated: Oct 3, 2025

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
ERK5 inhibitor BIX02189 attenuates methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity by modulating microglial activation in the
Osamu Nakagawasai1, Kohei Takahashi2, Yuki Miura1
1Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-4-1 Komatsushima, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 981-8558, Japan.
Abstract:
Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) has various physiological functions. However, the physiological role of ERK5 in the treatment of mice with an illicit drug such as methamphetamine (METH) remains unknown. We revealed that mice treated with METH showed hyperactivity, and increased p-ERK5 and Iba1 (a microglia marker) levels in the striatum. Additionally, these changes were inhibited by pretreatment with the ERK5 inhibitor BIX02189. The results suggest that METH-induced hyperactivity is associated with the activation of microglia via p-ERK5 in the striatum. Thus, the ERK5 pathway components in the central nervous system are potential therapeutic targets for preventing METH addiction.
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