title: Evidence of astrogliosis in rat hippocampus after d-amphetamine exposure.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Benício N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Andreazza
authors.forename: Keila M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ceresér
authors.forename: Márcio R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Fabrícia C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Petronilho
authors.forename: Daniela F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tramontina
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quevedo
authors.forename: Flávio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kapczinski
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D003913:Dextroamphetamine