Methylphenidate treatment induces oxidative stress in young rat brain.
Methylphenidate (MPH) is frequently prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychostimulants can cause long-lasting neurochemical and behavioral adaptations. Here, we evaluated oxidative damage in the rat brain and the differential age-dependent response to MPH after acute and chronic exposure. We investigated the oxidative damage, assessed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), and the protein carbonyl assays in cerebellum, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebral cortex of young (25 days old) and adult (60 days old) male Wistar rats after acute and chronic exposure to MPH. Chronic MPH-treated young rats presented a dose-dependent increase in TBARS content and protein carbonyls formation in specific rat brain regions. In the acute exposure, only MPH highest dose increased lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus. No difference in protein carbonylation was observed among groups in all structures analyzed. In adult rats, we did not find oxidative damage in both acute and chronic treatment. Chronic exposure to MPH in induces oxidative damage in young rat brain, differentially from chronic exposure during adulthood. These findings highlight the need for further research to improve understanding of MPH effects on developing nervous system and the potential consequences in adulthood resulting from early-life drug exposure.
Laboratório de Neurociências, PPGCS, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
Márcio R
MR
Martins
Adalisa
A
Reinke
Fabrícia C
FC
Petronilho
Karin M
KM
Gomes
Felipe
F
Dal-Pizzol
João
J
Quevedo
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008774:Methylphenidate