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Repeated co-administrations of alcohol- and methamphetamine-produced anxiogenic effect could be associated with the neurotoxicity in the dentate gyrus

  • Basic Neurosciences, Genetics and Immunology - Original Article
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Abstract

To date, joint use of alcohol (EtOH) and methamphetamine (MA) represents a specific combination of polydrug abuse. Repeated administrations of EtOH, MA, and combined EtOH and MA were assessed for their effects on brain cell toxicity, cell mitosis and anxiety/depression-like behavior. We found that repeated co-administrations of EtOH and MA produced profound anxiogenic effects. Specifically, combined EtOH and MA decreased open arm exploratory responses in the elevated plus maze test. Moreover, combined EtOH and MA significantly decreased immobile responses in the tail suspension test. MA, EtOH, and their combination all reduced the number of NeuN-positive cells in amygdala (Amg), while neither of them altered the number of NeuN-positive cells in striatum (St) or prefrontal cortex (PFC). Combined EtOH and MA decreased the number of NeuN-positive cells in dentate gyrus (DG). EtOH, MA, and combined EtOH and MA all diminished comparable number of GFAP-positive cells in Amg, DG, and St. Neither of these treatment affected the number of GFAP-positive cells in PFC. EtOH, MA, and combined EtOH and MA generated comparable inhibiting effects on cell proliferation in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and DG. These results, taken together, suggest that repeated co-administrations of MA and EtOH may produce an observable anxiogenic effect. This combination-produced anxiogenic effect could be associated with neuronal loss in the dentate gurus. In contrast, such an anxiogenic effect is less likely related to this combination-caused glial toxicity in limbic regions or cell proliferation-inhibiting effect in the SVZ or DG.

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Acknowledgments

This research is supported by ROC National Science Council grants 97-2321-B-006-010, 97-2410-H-006-074-MY3, 98-2321-B-006-003, 98-2410-H-006-019 to L.Y.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC

    Jia-Ying Chuang, Gour-Shenq Kao & Lung Yu

  2. Behavioral Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Institute of Behavioral Medicine, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, 1 University Road, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan, ROC

    Wan-Ting Chang & Lung Yu

  3. Department of Health Psychology, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, 71101, Taiwan, ROC

    Chianfang G. Cherng

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  1. Jia-Ying Chuang
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Correspondence to Lung Yu.

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Chuang, JY., Chang, WT., Cherng, C.G. et al. Repeated co-administrations of alcohol- and methamphetamine-produced anxiogenic effect could be associated with the neurotoxicity in the dentate gyrus. J Neural Transm 118, 1559–1569 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-011-0645-2

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