title: Sex differences in adolescent methylphenidate sensitization: effects on glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
abstract: This study analyzed sex differences in methylphenidate (MPH) sensitization and corresponding changes in glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotprhic factor protein (BDNF) in adolescent male and female rats. After habituation to a locomotor arena, animals were sensitized to MPH (5mg/kg) or saline from postnatal day (P) 33-49, tested every second day. On P50, one group of animals were injected with saline and behavior assessed for conditioned hyperactivity. Brain tissue was harvested on P51 and analyzed for GDNF protein. A second group of animals was also sensitized to MPH from P33 to 49, and expression of behavioral sensitization was analyzed on a challenge given at P60, and BDNF protein analyzed at P61. Females demonstrated more robust sensitization to MPH than males, but only females given MPH during sensitization demonstrated conditioned hyperactivity. Interestingly, MPH resulted in a significant increase in striatal and accumbal GDNF with no sex differences revealed. Results of the challenge revealed that females sensitized and challenged with MPH demonstrated increased activity compared to all other groups. Regarding BDNF, only males given MPH demonstrated an increase in dorsal striatum, whereas MPH increased accumbal BDNF with no sex differences revealed. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that behavioral sensitization and the conditioned hyperactivity test were reliable predictors of striatal and accumbal GDNF, whereas sensitization and activity on the challenge were reliable predictors of accumbal BDNF, but had no relationship to striatal BDNF. These data have implications for the role of MPH in addiction and dopamine system plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Ross L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Roeding
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Marla K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Palmatier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. Electronic address: brown1@mail.etsu.edu.
authors.forename: Russell W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008774:Methylphenidate
keywords: Adolescence; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Glial-cell derived neurotrophic factor; Methylphenidate; Sensitization