Chronic Methamphetamine Induces Structural Changes in Frontal Cortex Neurons and Upregulates Type I Interferons |
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Authors: | Alice Coutinho Claudia Flynn Tricia H Burdo Ronald F Mervis Howard S Fox |
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Institution: | (1) Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, SP30-2030, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;(2) Neurostructural Research Labs, Inc., Center of Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA;(3) Present address: Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA |
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Abstract: | While methamphetamine-induced changes in brain neurotransmitters, their receptors, and transporters are well studied, the
means by which methamphetamine abuse results in cognitive and behavioral abnormalities is unknown. Here, we administered methamphetamine
chronically, in doses relevant to recreational usage patterns, to nonhuman primates. Neurostructural analysis revealed decreased
dendritic material and loss of spines in frontal lobe neurons. Molecular examination demonstrated that type I interferons
(interferon-alpha and interferon-beta) increased in the frontal lobe in response to chronic methamphetamine treatment, in
correlation with the neuronal changes. Chronic methamphetamine thus results in significant changes in the primate brain, inducing
cytokines and altering neuronal structure, both of which can contribute to functional abnormalities. |
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Keywords: | methamphetamine cortical neuron interferon Golgi dendrites monkey nonhuman primate brain |
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