title: Effects of prolonged abstinence from METH on the hippocampal BDNF levels, neuronal numbers and apoptosis in methamphetamine-sensitized rats.
abstract: Methamphetamine (METH) use is associated with neuronal damage in various regions of brain, while effects of prolonged abstinence on METH-induced damage are not quite clear. This study evaluated serum and hippocampal BDNF levels, neuronal numbers and apoptosis in METH-sensitized and abstinent rats. Rats were sensitized to METH (2mg/kg, daily/18 days, s.c.). All rats were evaluated for neuron counting, the TUNEL test and serum and hippocampal BDNF levels after 30 days of forced abstinence from METH. The results showed that increased BDNF levels in the hippocampus and serum of METH-sensitized rats returned to control level after 30 days of abstinence. The number of neurons in the DG and CA1 of hippocampus and also, the total hippocampal perimeter and area in METH-sensitized rats were significantly lower than the saline rats. While, the number of neurons was not significantly increased in the hippocampus after prolonged abstinence from METH. Also, METH-sensitized rats showed a significant increase in TUNEL-positive cells, whereas METH-abstinent rats showed a slight but significant decrease in TUNEL-positive cells in the DG and CA3 of hippocampus. These results suggest that despite the reduction in BDNF levels, reducing the number of neurons, perimeter and area of the hippocampus were stable after abstinence. Thus, the degenerative effects of METH have been sustained even after prolonged abstinence in the hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Semnan, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hajheidari
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Nervous System Stem Cells, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Sameni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Endocrine Research, Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bandegi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Addiction Models, Research Center and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Electronic address: Miladi331@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miladi-Gorji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine
keywords: BDNF; Hippocampus; Methamphetamine; Neuronal apoptosis.