LiCl Pretreatment Ameliorates Adolescent Methamphetamine Exposure-Induced Long-Term Alterations in Behavior and Hippocampal Ultrastructure in Adulthood in Mice.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Adolescent methamphetamine exposure causes a broad range of neurobiological deficits in adulthood. Glycogen synthase kinase-3? is involved in various cognitive and behavioral processes associated with methamphetamine exposure. This study aims to investigate the protective effects of the glycogen synthase kinase-3? inhibitor lithium chloride on adolescent methamphetamine exposure-induced long-term alterations in emotion, cognition, behavior, and molecule and hippocampal ultrastructure in adulthood. METHODS:A behavioral test battery was used to investigate the protective effects of lithium chloride on adolescent methamphetamine exposure-induced long-term emotional, cognitive, and behavioral impairments in mice. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect glycogen synthase kinase-3? activity levels in the medial prefrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus. Electron microscopy was used to analyze changes in synaptic ultrastructure in the dorsal hippocampus. Locomotor sensitization with a methamphetamine (1 mg/kg) challenge was examined 80 days after adolescent methamphetamine exposure. RESULTS:Adolescent methamphetamine exposure induced long-term alterations in locomotor activity, novel spatial exploration, and social recognition memory; increases in glycogen synthase kinase-3? activity in dorsal hippocampus; and decreases in excitatory synapse density and postsynaptic density thickness in CA1. These changes were ameliorated by lithium chloride pretreatment. Adolescent methamphetamine exposure-induced working memory deficits in Y-maze spontaneous alternation test and anxiety-like behavior in elevated-plus maze test spontaneously recovered after long-term methamphetamine abstinence. No significant locomotor sensitization was observed after long-term methamphetamine abstinence. CONCLUSIONS:Hyperactive glycogen synthase kinase-3? contributes to adolescent chronic methamphetamine exposure-induced behavioral and hippocampal impairments in adulthood. Our results suggest glycogen synthase kinase-3? may be a potential target for the treatment of deficits in adulthood associated with adolescent methamphetamine abuse.
SUBMITTER: Yan P
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6441133 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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