Investigating the PGC-1α gene expression in brain stem of male rats during repeated methamphetamine treatment and withdrawal syndrome

Background and Aim : Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha, PGC-1α, is a member of the PGC-1 family of transcriptional coactivators. The PGC-1 coactivators play important roles in gene regulation of molecules critical for metabolic processes throughout the body such as mitochondrial biogenesis. Methamphetamine intoxication results in a constellation of gene expression changes in neurons. Buprenorphine, a partial mu-opoid receptor agonist, has unique pharmacologic properties that distinguish it from methadone and other medications used in the treatment of opioid dependence. So the aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of PGC-1α during methamphetamine-induced addiction and withdrawal syndrome in the brain stem of male rats.Methods : 28 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four experimental groups (n=7): Control, Saline, Methamphetamine (10 mg/kg, i.p. for 5 days) and Spontaneous methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome (72 hour later). Brain stem tissue was assayed for the expression of PGC-1α gene using RT- PCR.Results : Chronic administration of methamphetamine to control group decreased the PGC-1α gene expression in comparison to control group but it was not significant. In Spontaneous methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome group, the level of PGC-1α gene expression did not changed in comparison to control group.Conclusion : It is known that PGC-1α plays an important role in the underlying mechanism of METH-induced mitochondria dysfunction. Therefor it seems, the mitochondria biogenesis may be a new, valuable tool in searching for a new strategy of management of methamphetamine dependence.

کلیدواژه ها:

PGC-1α ، Methamphetamine ، brain stem