Evidence of astrogliosis in rat hippocampus after d-amphetamine exposure.
BACKGROUND
Psychostimulants such as amphetamine (AMPH) induce manic-like symptoms in humans and studies have suggested that bipolar disorder (BD) may be associated to dopamine dysfunction. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) up-regulation is considered a marker of astrogliosis, and it has been associated to behavioral sensitization.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate the behavioral effects of acute and chronic AMPH on rat locomotion and assess GFAP levels in rat cortex and hippocampus.


METHODS
Rats were administered either acute (single dose) or chronic (seven days) d-amphetamine IP injection. Locomotion was assessed with an open-field test and GFAP immunoquantity was measured using ELISA.


RESULTS
Chronic, but not acute, administration of AMPH increased GFAP levels in rat hippocampus. No differences were observed in rat cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
Repeated exposure to AMPH leads to an astroglial response in the hippocampus of rats.
Frey
Benício N
BN
Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Andreazza
Ana C
AC
Ceresér
Keila M
KM
Martins
Márcio R
MR
Petronilho
Fabrícia C
FC
de Souza
Daniela F
DF
Tramontina
Francine
F
Gonçalves
Carlos A
CA
Quevedo
João
J
Kapczinski
Flávio
F
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D003913:Dextroamphetamine