Behavioral and Serotonergic Changes in the Frontal Cortex Following Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use is associated with a variety of negative health outcomes, including psychosis. The frontal cortex serotonin receptors are thought to contribute to psychosis-like behaviors. This study investigated changes in serotonergic markers in the frontal cortex following methamphetamine self-administration and hallucinogenic drug-induced behavior. METHODS: Consistent with previously published studies, freely cycling male and female rats were allowed to self-administer methamphetamine (males: 0.12 mg/infusion; females: 0.09 mg/infusion) or saline (10 µL) for 7 days. On the day following self-administration or following 10 days of extinction training, animals were given the serotonin 2A/2C agonist, 1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride (2 mg/kg, i.p.), and head twitches were analyzed. Autoradiography was also used to assess serotonin receptors and transporters in the frontal cortex following self-administration. RESULTS: Methamphetamine self-administration led to an increase in DOI-induced head-twitch behavior compared to saline only on the day following self-administration. Increases in serotonin receptors in the orbitofrontal cortex and decreases in serotonin transporters in the orbitofrontal cortex and infralimbic cortex were observed following methamphetamine self-administration as assessed by autoradiography. CONCLUSIONS: Methamphetamine self-administration was associated with serotonergic alterations in the frontal cortex, which may underlie behavioral changes related to methamphetamine-associated psychosis.
DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyy044
Institutions: University of South Dakota, University of Utah
Language: English
Subfield: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,693
Awards: G2181401978, SPURA - Summer Program for Undergraduate Research in Addiction, Serotonergic changes in the frontal cortex during methamphetamine reinstatement, South Dakota Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network, G5490590716, Serotonergic changes in the frontal cortex during methamphetamine reinstatement, G7757554114, G9000092564, G9000138406
OpenAlex ID: W2803136618