title: Enhanced functional connectivity involving the ventromedial hypothalamus following methamphetamine exposure.
abstract: Methamphetamine (MA) consumption causes disruption of many biological rhythms including the sleep-wake cycle. This circadian effect is seen shortly following MA exposure and later in life following developmental MA exposure. MA phase shifts, entrains the circadian clock and can also alter the entraining effect of light by currently unknown mechanisms. We analyzed and compared immunoreactivity of the immediate early gene c-Fos, a marker of neuronal activity, to assess neuronal activation 2 h following MA exposure in the light and dark phases. We used network analyses of correlation patterns derived from global brain immunoreactivity patterns of c-Fos, to infer functional connectivity between brain regions. There were five distinct patterns of neuronal activation. In several brain areas, neuronal activation following exposure to MA was stronger in the light than the dark phase, highlighting the importance of considering circadian periods of increased effects of MA in defining experimental conditions and understanding the mechanisms underlying detrimental effects of MA exposure to brain function. Functional connectivity between the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and other brain areas, including the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and basolateral and medial amygdala, was enhanced following MA exposure, suggesting a role for the VMH in the effects of MA on the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA ; Department of Psychology, University at Albany Albany, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Damian G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Zuloaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Ovidiu D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Iancu
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Desiree
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Etzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Tessa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marzulla
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Blair
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA ; Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Charles N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA ; Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA ; Department of Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA ; Division of Neuroscience, ONPRC, Oregon Health & Science University Portland Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raber
keywords: activation; dark phase; functional connectivity; light phase; methamphetamine