title: Methylphenidate treatment affects mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the striatum of young rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Methylphenidate (MPD) is a drug prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and its therapeutic effect is attributed to the inhibition of dopamine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young male Wistar rats were administered MPD (1, 2, 5, or 10 mg/kg) once a day or an intraperitoneal injection of saline for 28 days (chronic treatment) or for 1 day (acute treatment). Two hours after the last administration the animals were decapitated and their striatum was dissected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this work, we show that continued treatment with MPD is capable of modifying the levels of phosphorylation of proteins JNK1/2 (c-Jun amino-terminal kinases 1 and 2) and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2). Whereas the level of phosphorylation of protein ERK increased significantly, that of proteins JNK1/2 diminished.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The alteration in the level of activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases can be a molecular mechanism through which MPD exerts its therapeutic effect.
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Neurosciences and National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Postgradute Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarissa M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Comim
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Neurosciences and National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Postgradute Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josimar G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Neurosciences and National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Postgradute Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandro J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Neurosciences and National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Postgradute Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quevedo
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratory of Neurosciences and National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Postgradute Program in Health Sciences, Health Sciences Unit, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carina R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Boeck