Methamphetamine protects against stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions in mice.
Stress-induced gastric mucosal injury is a common clinical entity. On the other hand, abuse of methamphetamine (MA) represents a growing social problem. MA users are frequently in stressful situations. In this study, we examined the effects of MA on gastric injury, corticosterone level and immunomodulation using a water-immersion restraint stress (WRS) mouse model that is well known to induce gastric lesions. Mice were randomly divided into five groups: (1) the normal group, (2) the 3 hour (3 h)-WRS group, (3) the 6 hour (6 h)-WRS group, (4) the MA (3 mg/kg) plus 6 h-WRS group and (5) the MA (30 mg/kg) plus 6h-WRS group. As expected, most animals examined (above 90%) showed gastric injury after the WRS exposure. However, administration of MA at both 3 and 30 mg/kg resulted in significant suppression of the injury. The corticosterone levels were increased by exposure to the stress and/or MA, but there was no difference between these groups. The levels of the serum cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and TNF were increased by WRS, and were markedly increased by MA plus WRS; in particular, the level of IL-6 was synergistically increased. On the contrary, the level of IL-1beta was significantly decreased by WRS and MA plus WRS. This is the first report showing the protective effect of MA on stress-induced gastric injury, although further study is necessary to resolve the mechanism of MA-driven suppression of the injury.
Tomita
Masafumi
M
Department of Medical Toxicology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan. toxicology@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp
Okuyama
Toshiko
T
Nata
Masayuki
M
Katsuyama
Hironobu
H
Hidaka
Kazuo
K
Watanabe
Yoko
Y
Otsuki
Takemi
T
Moriya
Fumio
F
Ishizu
Hideo
H
D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D016207:Cytokines; D008694:Methamphetamine; D003345:Corticosterone