Interaction of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with the Effects of Chronic Methamphetamine on Prepulse Inhibition in Mice Is Independent of Dopamine D3 Receptors

Samuel Hogarth, Emily J. Jaehne, Xiangjun Xu, Quenten Schwarz, Maarten van den Buuse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to gain a better understanding of the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and dopamine D3 receptors in the effects of chronic methamphetamine (METH) on prepulse inhibition (PPI), an endophenotype of psychosis. We compared the effect of a three-week adolescent METH treatment protocol on the regulation of PPI in wildtype mice, BDNF heterozygous mice (HET), D3 receptor knockout mice (D3KO), and double-mutant mice (DM) with both BDNF heterozygosity and D3 receptor knockout. Chronic METH induced disruption of PPI regulation in male mice with BDNF haploinsufficiency (HET and DM), independent of D3 receptor knockout. Specifically, these mice showed reduced baseline PPI, as well as attenuated disruption of PPI induced by acute treatment with the dopamine receptor agonist, apomorphine (APO), or the glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801. In contrast, there were no effects of BDNF heterozygosity or D3 knockout on PPI regulation in female mice. Chronic METH pretreatment induced the expected locomotor hyperactivity sensitisation, where female HET and DM mice also showed endogenous sensitisation. Differential sex-specific effects of genotype and METH pretreatment were observed on dopamine receptor and dopamine transporter gene expression in the striatum and frontal cortex. Taken together, these results show a significant involvement of BDNF in the long-term effects of METH on PPI, particularly in male mice, but these effects appear independent of D3 receptors. The role of this receptor in psychosis endophenotypes therefore remains unclear.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2290
Number of pages21
JournalBiomedicines
Volume11
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • brain-derived neurotrophic factor
  • dopamine D3 receptors
  • frontal cortex
  • methamphetamine
  • prepulse inhibition
  • sex differences
  • striatum

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