Open AccessRepeated methamphetamine treatment increases spine density in the nucleus accumbens of serotonin transporter knockout mice
Author(s) -
Kasahara Yoshiyuki,
Sakakibara Yasufumi,
Hiratsuka Takashi,
Moriya Yuki,
Lesch KlausPeter,
Hall F. Scott,
Uhl George R.,
Sora Ichiro
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
neuropsychopharmacology reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.661
H-Index - 13
ISSN - 2574-173X
DOI - 10.1002/npr2.12049
Subject(s) - nucleus accumbens , methamphetamine , medium spiny neuron , serotonin transporter , dendritic spine , knockout mouse , sensitization , serotonin , neuroscience , serotonergic , dopamine transporter , pharmacology , chemistry , biology , dopamine , medicine , dopaminergic , hippocampal formation , striatum , receptor
Aim Repeated psychostimulant drug treatment, including methamphetamine, in rodents readily produces behavioral sensitization, which reflects altered brain function caused by repeated drug exposure. Dendritic remodeling of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens is thought to be an essential mechanism underlying behavioral sensitization. We recently showed that chronic methamphetamine treatment did not produce behavioral sensitization in serotonin transporter knockout mice. Methods In this study, we report the spine density of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens after repeated methamphetamine injection to examine morphological alterations in serotonin transporter knockout mice. Results Golgi‐ COX staining clearly showed that the spine density of medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens increased following repeated methamphetamine treatment in both wild‐type and serotonin transporter knockout mice. Conclusions Our results suggested that augmented serotonergic neurotransmission produced by serotonin transporter deletion prevents the development of behavioral sensitization in a manner that is independent of dendritic remodeling in the nucleus accumbens.