Biomedical subjects

Kiyofumi Yamada

Publications and source records attributed to Kiyofumi Yamada.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Transient drug-primed but persistent cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished methamphetamine-seeking behavior in mice.

It is essential to develop animal models to study the role of genetic factors in the relapse of drug-seeking behavior in genetically engineered mutant mice. This paper reports a typical model of drug-primed and cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished methamphetamine (METH)-seeking behavior in mice. C57BL/6J mice were trained to self-administer METH (0.1mg/kg/infusion) by poking their nose into an active hole under a fixed ratio schedule in daily 3-h sessions. After acquiring stable METH self-administration behavior, the mice were subjected to extinction training in the absence of both METH and METH-associated cues. Once the active nose-poking responses were extinguished, drug-primed and cue-induced reinstatement were investigated according to a within-subjects design. A priming injection of METH reliably reinstated the extinguished drug-seeking behavior in the absence of both METH and METH-associated cues. Interestingly, the drug-primed METH-seeking behavior disappeared within 2 months after withdrawal from METH, while cue-induced reinstatement of extinguished METH-seeking behavior lasted for at least 5 months after the withdrawal. A correlation study revealed that drug-primed, but not cue-induced, reinstatement behavior was positively correlated with the total amount of METH taken by individuals during METH self-administration. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the present reinstatement procedure for mouse model of relapse is useful and reliable, and different neural mechanisms may be involved in drug-primed and cue-induced METH-seeking behavior.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

The rewards of nicotine: regulation by tissue plasminogen activator-plasmin system through protease activated receptor-1.

Nicotine, a primary component of tobacco, is one of the most abused drugs worldwide. Approximately four million people die each year because of diseases associated with tobacco smoking. Mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons mediate the rewarding effects of abused drugs, including nicotine. Here we show that the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-plasmin system regulates nicotine-induced reward and dopamine release by activating protease activated receptor-1 (PAR1). In vivo microdialysis revealed that microinjection of either tPA or plasmin into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) significantly potentiated whereas plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 reduced the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the NAc in a dose-dependent manner. Nicotine-induced dopamine release was markedly diminished in tPA-deficient (tPA-/-) mice, and the defect of dopamine release in tPA-/- mice was restored by microinjection of either exogenous tPA or plasmin into the NAc. Nicotine increased tPA protein levels and promoted the release of tPA into the extracellular space in the NAc. Immunohistochemistry revealed that PAR1 immunoreactivity was localized to the nerve terminals positive for tyrosine hydroxylase in the NAc. Furthermore, we demonstrated that plasmin activated PAR1 and that nicotine-induced place preference and dopamine release were diminished in PAR1-deficient (PAR1-/-) mice. Targeting the tPA-plasmin-PAR1 system would provide new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of nicotine dependence.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed2006

A novel azaindolizinone derivative ZSET1446 (spiro[imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3,2-indan]-2(3H)-one) improves methamphetamine-induced impairment of recognition memory in mice by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2.

The effect of ZSET1446 (spiro[imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3,2-indan]-2(3H)-one) on cognitive impairment in mice, previously treated with methamphetamine (METH) at a dose of 1 mg/kg for 7 days, was investigated. ZSET1446 showed a significant ameliorating effect on METH-induced impairment of recognition memory, although it had no effect on exploratory behavior. ZSET1446 (1 microg/kg) recovered the defect of the novelty-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of METH-treated mice. The compound increased phosphorylated ERK1/2 levels in the hippocampus but not PFC of naive mice without affecting the total ERK1/2 levels. The ameliorating effect of ZSET1446 on recognition memory in METH-treated mice was negated by pretreatment with a mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor, SL327 (alpha-[amino-(4-aminophenylthio)methylene]-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile). Furthermore, the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390 [R-(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine], and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801 [5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine (dizocilpine maleate)], blocked the ameliorating effect of ZSET1446 on METH-induced memory impairment, whereas the D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride, had no effect. These results suggest that the ameliorative effect of ZSET1446 on METH-induced memory impairment is associated with indirect activation of ERK1/2 following stimulation with dopamine D1 and NMDA receptors of the PFC. ZSET1446 would be a potential candidate for further preclinical study aimed at the treatment of cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, as well as METH psychosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Neural circuits containing pallidotegmental GABAergic neurons are involved in the prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex in mice.

BACKGROUND: Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response is a measure of the inhibitory function and time-linked information processing by which a weak sensory stimulus (the prepulse) inhibits the startle response caused by a sudden intense stimulus. We attempted to clarify the neuronal circuits underlying the control of PPI of the startle reflex in mice. METHODS: c-Fos immunohistochemistry was used to detect neurons activated by startle pulse and/or prepulse trials. Behavioural pharmacology and tracing studies were also conducted. RESULTS: The lateral globus pallidus (LGP) was activated by prepulses. Activation of the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC) evoked by the startle pulses was inhibited under PPI conditions. Double-immunostaining revealed that c-Fos-positive cells in the LGP following prepulse trials were GABAergic neurons. Bilateral microinjections of lidocaine into the LGP resulted in an impairment of PPI. Fluoro-gold infusion into the PnC and the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) retrogradely labeled neurons in the PPTg and LGP, respectively. Microinjections of phaclofen into the PPTg significantly impaired PPI. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that GABAergic neurons in the LGP which project to the PPTg play a crucial role through the activation of GABAB receptors in the regulation of PPI of the startle reflex in mice.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMed2006

Involvement of hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in spatial working memory in rats.

The role of the phosphorylation of hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in spatial working memory in rats was assessed with a delayed spatial win-shift task in a radial arm maze. The task consisted of two phases, a training phase and a test phase, separated by a delay. Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 levels were significantly and transiently increased in the hippocampus by 60 min, and then returned to the control levels 120 min after the training phase. Bilateral microinjections of the PD98059, an inhibitor of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 kinase MEK, into the hippocampus impaired performance in the test phase of the delayed spatial win-shift task at 5-min delay. These results suggest that extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation in the hippocampus plays a crucial role in spatial working memory.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

High fat and high fructose diet induced intracranial atherosclerosis and enhanced vasoconstrictor responses in non-human primate.

The present study examined the effect of high fat and high fructose (HFF) diet on the development of atherosclerosis and vascular contractile responses in the cerebral artery and thoracic aorta in non-human primates. Female cynomolgus monkeys (age: 3 to 4 years) were divided into normal control diet (N=5) and HFF diet groups (N=5). Twenty-eight weeks after feeding the HFF diet, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in serum were significantly increased in the HFF diet group compared to the control group. The ultrastructural analyses of the basilar artery and aorta demonstrated the infiltration of lipid-laden foam cells and the appearance of lipid droplet-filled smooth muscle cells in the monkeys fed with the HFF diet. In terms of vascular reactivity, there was significantly greater vasoconstriction of the aorta and basilar artery in response to 5-hydroxytryptamine in the HFF diet group compared to the normal diet-fed group. In addition, KCl-induced vasoconstriction of the basilar arteries was also significantly enhanced in the HFF diet group compared to the normal diet-fed monkeys. In all, our present study has demonstrated that changes in the vascular responsiveness of the cerebral artery and its cellular architecture may manifest into cerebrovascular complications consistent with a pathological state normally observed with the onset and progression of atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Involvement of tissue plasminogen activator-plasmin system in depolarization-evoked dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens of mice.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a serine protease, catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. In the present study, we investigated the role of the tPA-plasmin system in depolarization-evoked dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and hippocampus, respectively, of mice, by using in vivo microdialysis. Microinjection of either tPA or plasmin significantly potentiated 40 mM KCl-induced DA release without affecting basal DA levels. In contrast, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 dose-dependently reduced 60 mM KCl-induced DA release. The 60 mM KCl-evoked DA release in the NAc was markedly diminished in tPA-deficient (tPA-/-) mice compared with wild-type mice, although basal DA levels did not differ between the two groups. Microinjections of either exogenous tPA (100 ng) or plasmin (100 ng) into the NAc of tPA-/-mice restored 60 mM KCl-induced DA release, as observed in wild-type mice. In contrast, there was no difference in either basal or 60 mM KCl-induced ACh release in the hippocampus between wild-type and tPA-/-mice. Our findings suggest that the tPA-plasmin system is involved in the regulation of depolarization-evoked DA release in the NAc.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed2006

Discriminative-stimulus effects of methamphetamine and morphine in rats are attenuated by cAMP-related compounds.

Animal models of drug discrimination have been used to examine the subjective effects of addictive substances. The cAMP system is a crucial downstream signaling pathway implicated in the long-lasting neuroadaptations induced by addictive drugs. We examined effects of rolipram, nefiracetam, and dopamine D2-like receptor antagonists, all of which have been reported to modulate cAMP level in vivo, on the discriminative-stimulus effects of methamphetamine (METH) and morphine in rats. All these compounds inhibited the discriminative-stimulus effects of METH, while only rolipram and nefiracetam attenuated the discriminative-stimulus effects of morphine. In addition, neither nifedipine nor neomycin, two voltage-sensitive calcium channel blockers, was found to modulate the effect of nefiracetam on METH-associated discriminative stimuli, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of nefiracetam may not involve the activation of calcium channels. These findings suggest that the cAMP signaling cascade may play a key role in the discriminative-stimulus effects of METH and morphine and may be a potential target for the development of therapeutics to counter drugs of abuse.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2006

The magnetism responsive gene Ntan1 in mouse brain.

We have previously identified Ntan1 as a magnetism response gene by differential display screening in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Ntan1 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in all the mouse tissues examined but relatively abundant in brain, retina and testis. Ntan1 mRNA expression was detectable in the embryonic 12-day mouse brain and gradually increased with ageing. In situ hybridization analysis showed high localization of Ntan1 mRNA in pyramidal cell layer of CA region and granular cell layer of dentate gyrus in the hippocampus, and Purkinje and granular cell layers in the cerebellum, respectively. Ntan1 mRNA expression was significantly increased about two-fold 12 h after brief exposure for 15 min to magnetism at 100 mT with a gradual decrease thereafter in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons. When embryonic 12-day-old or newborn mice were successively exposed to magnetic fields at 100 mT for 2 h, four times per day until the postnatal seventh day, Ntan1 mRNA was significantly increased about 1.5-2-fold in the hippocampus in vivo. The mice exposed to magnetic fields under the same condition showed significantly decreased locomotor activity. These results suggest that magnetic exposure affects higher order neural functions through modulation of genes expression.

Amidohydrolases↗

PubMed2006

Relapse of methamphetamine-seeking behavior in C57BL/6J mice demonstrated by a reinstatement procedure involving intravenous self-administration.

There is an urgent need to develop a reliable mouse model of relapse to address the genetic factors involved in susceptibility to relapse of drug-seeking behavior by using mutant mice. This paper presents a feasible way to reinstate extinguished methamphetamine (METH)-seeking behavior. Male C57BL/6J mice acquired stable nose-poking responses for taking METH after approximately 10 daily 3-h sessions of METH (0.1mg/kg/infusion) self-administration under a fixed ratio 1 or 2 (FR1/2) schedule. During the self-administration, cue- and hole-lamps indicated the availability of METH and were inactivated simultaneously with each infusion for 5s. The mice were exposed to extinction training in the absence of METH-paired stimuli (cue- and hole-lamps) and METH infusion, until they met the extinction criterion (less than 25 active responses or 30% of active responses in the stable self-administration phase on 2 consecutive days). METH-paired stimuli (cue- and hole-lamps) during METH self-administration reliably triggered a relapse of METH-seeking behavior in the absence of METH infusion. A combination of non-contingent intravenous (i.v.) priming and self-injected METH also increased the reinstatement of METH-seeking behavior in the absence of METH-paired stimuli (cue- and hole-lamps) and without METH infusion posterior to the self-injection. These results suggest that the mouse model of relapse in our study might provide a new stage for the exploration of genetic factors involved in relapse of drug dependence and of the underlying mechanisms of drugs of abuse.

Amphetamine-Related Disorders↗

PubMed2006

[Role of tissue plasminogen activator in the rewarding effect of morphine].

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen (plg) to plasmin. The tPA-plasmin system plays a role in synaptic plasticity and remodeling. In this review, we focused on the role of tPA-plasmin system in the rewarding effect of morphine. A single morphine treatment induced tPA mRNA and protein expression in a naloxone-sensitive manner, which was associated with an increase in the enzyme activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The acute effect of morphine in inducing tPA expression was diminished after repeated administration. No differences were observed in the morphine-induced antinociceptive effect between wild-type and tPA knockout (tPA-/-) mice. Morphine-induced conditioned place preference and hyperlocomotion were significantly reduced in tPA-/- and pLg-/- mice, being accompanied by a loss of morphine-induced dopamine release in the NAc. Microinjection of either exogenous tPA or plasmin into the NAc significantly potentiated morphine-induced dopamine release in the NAc of ICR mice. In contrast, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) dose-dependently reduced morphine-induced dopamine release. Furthermore, the defect of morphine-induced dopamine release and hyperlocomotion in tPA-/- mice was reversed by microinjections of either exogenous tPA or plasmin into the NAc. Our findings demonstrate a novel function of the tPA-plasmin system in regulating dopamine release in the NAc, which is involved in the morphine reward.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

PubMed2005

alpha7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor as a target to rescue deficit in hippocampal LTP induction in beta-amyloid infused rats.

Continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of beta-amyloid peptide 1-40 (Abeta(1-40)) in animal models induces learning and memory impairment associated with dysfunction of the cholinergic neuronal system, which has been considered to be a pathological model of Alzheimer's disease [Nitta, A., Itoh, A., Hasegawa, T., Nabeshima, T., 1994. Beta-amyloid protein-induced Alzheimer's disease animal model. Neurosci. Lett. 170, 63-66.]. Here, using a real-time optical recording technique, we demonstrate that basal synaptic transmission and several forms of synaptic plasticity, including long-term potentiation (LTP), post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) are deficient at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapse in hippocampal slices from Abeta-infused brain. Throughout this study, an effort was made to address whether the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7nAChR), which is believed to be a primary target of Abeta [Wang, H.Y., Lee, D.H., Davis, C.B., Shank, R.P., 2000a. Amyloid peptide Abeta (1-42) binds selectively and with picomolar affinity to alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. J. Neurochem. 75, 1155-1161.], is responsible for the deficits in synaptic plasticity observed in the Abeta-infused rats. First, we found that Abeta-infusion markedly depressed the response of alpha7nAChR to a selective alpha7nAChR agonist [3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-anabaseine] (DMXB). Second, blockade of alpha7nAChR with either methyllycaconitine (MLA) or alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) in control rats inhibited LTP induction, suggesting that the activation of alpha7nAChR is required for LTP induction. Finally, pre-treatment of the slices from Abeta-infused rats with 10 microM DMXB rescued CA1 synapses from the deficit in LTP and PPF. These results suggest that Abeta-impaired LTP and PPF arise as a consequence of dysfunctional alpha7nAChR, and that alpha7nAChR may be an important target to help ameliorate AD patient cognitive deficits.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

PubMed2005

Prostaglandin E receptor EP1 controls impulsive behavior under stress.

Animals under stress take adaptive actions that may lead to various types of behavioral disinhibition. Such behavioral disinhibition, when expressed excessively and impulsively, can result in harm in individuals and cause a problem in our society. We now show that, under social or environmental stress, mice deficient in prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP1 (Ptger1(-/-)) manifest behavioral disinhibition, including impulsive aggression with defective social interaction, impaired cliff avoidance, and an exaggerated acoustic startle response. This phenotype was reproduced in wild-type mice by administration of an EP1-selective antagonist, whereas administration of an EP1-selective agonist suppressed electric-shock-induced impulsive aggression. Dopamine turnover in the frontal cortex and striatum was increased in Ptger1(-/-) mice, and administration of dopaminergic antagonists corrected their behavioral phenotype. These results suggest that prostaglandin E(2) acts through EP1 to control impulsive behavior under stress, a finding potentially exploitable for development of drugs that attenuate impulsive behavior in humans.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Effects of single and repeated administration of methamphetamine or morphine on neuroglycan C gene expression in the rat brain.

The rearrangement of neural networks associated with the behavioural sensitization and tolerance induced by psychostimulants is poorly understood. We have investigated the effects of repeated administration of methamphetamine (chronic MAP), which induces behavioural sensitization, or morphine (chronic morphine), which induces tolerance to its antinociceptive effect, on the mRNA levels of neural network-related genes in the rat brain. A gene of special interest was that for neuroglycan C (NGC), a neural tissue-specific transmembrane chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan. Single MAP (acute MAP) administration significantly decreased NGC mRNA levels in the frontal cortex, ventral tegmental area (VTA), and amygdala compared to vehicle-treated groups. Repeated MAP (chronic MAP) administration significantly increased NGC mRNA levels in the frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens (NAc), striatum, hippocampus, VTA, and amygdala compared to acute MAP treatment. Single morphine (acute morphine) administration significantly increased NGC mRNA levels in the NAc, striatum, hippocampus, VTA, and amygdala compared to vehicle-treated groups. Chronic morphine administration significantly decreased NGC mRNA levels in the NAc, striatum, VTA, and amygdala compared to acute treatment. In addition, the NGC protein level in the NAc was increased after chronic MAP and acute morphine treatment. Dopamine and opioid receptor antagonists attenuated the effect of MAP and morphine respectively on NGC mRNA levels. These results suggest that the sensitization to MAP is associated with up-regulation of NGC gene expression, while the tolerance to the morphine-induced analgesic effect is associated with the down-regulation of NGC gene expression.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Repeated methamphetamine treatment impairs recognition memory through a failure of novelty-induced ERK1/2 activation in the prefrontal cortex of mice.

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical studies have suggested that chronic use of methamphetamine (METH) induces long-term cognitive deficits. To clarify the mechanism of METH-induced cognitive impairment, we investigated the effect of METH on cognitive function in mice. METHODS: Mice were repeatedly administered METH for 7 days, and their cognitive function was assessed using a novel-object recognition task. Therapeutic effects of clozapine and haloperidol on METH-induced cognitive impairment were investigated. Western blotting and specific inhibitors were employed to determine the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). RESULTS: Repeated METH treatment induced an impairment of recognition of novel objects and behavioral sensitization. These effects persisted for at least 28 days after the drug withdrawal. Clozapine, but not haloperidol, reduced METH-induced cognitive impairment. Hyperphosphorylation of ERK1/2 was found in the prefrontal cortex of mice exposed to the novel objects, but was abolished in mice treated with METH. Inhibition of ERK1/2 by the microinjection of PD98059 into the prefrontal cortex resulted in cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that repeated METH treatment induces cognitive impairment, which is associated with the dysfunction of the ERK1/2 pathway in the prefrontal cortex.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid beta-induced memory impairment in a delayed-matching to position task in rats.

We investigated the effects of memantine and donepezil on amyloid beta (Abeta)-induced memory impairment in rats, which was assessed by a delayed-matching to position (DMPT) paradigm in three-lever operant chambers. Aggregated Abeta1-40 was microinjected bilaterally (1 nmol/side) into both CA1 and CA3 subfields of the hippocampus in rats that had previously performed the DMTP task. Memantine (20 mg/(kg day), s.c.) was continuously infused by an osmotic minipump for 4 weeks from 3 days before the microinjection of Abeta. Donepezil (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 60 min before the DMTP test session. Bilateral microinjections of Abeta1-40 into the hippocampus resulted in a delayed, but persistent impairment of DMTP performance, which appeared more than 50 days after the injection. Memantine prevented the development of Abeta-induced memory impairment, while donepezil symptomatically alleviated the deficits. Because of a ceiling effect, the combination of donepezil with memantine failed to produce any additive or synergic effects. These results support the clinical data showing that memantine and donepezil are effective for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, it is suggested that memantine is effective for preventing Abeta-induced short-term memory impairment.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗

PubMed2005

Mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder of late life characterized by insidious, chronic, and progressive memory impairment in association with the accumulation of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and massive loss of neurons. Apoptosis is believed to be an important contributor to progression and pathology of neurodegeneration in AD. There is considerable evidence that amyloid beta-peptide, a major component of senile plaques, has the capacity to activate intracellular apoptosis pathways leading to neuronal cell death. AD-related mutations in genes coding presenilins are also shown to cause neuronal apoptosis, by directly and indirectly regulating apoptotic signaling cascades. Recent evidence suggests that two intrinsic pathways, mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress, are central in the execution of apoptosis in AD. This review summarizes recent progress of research in this field focused on the molecular mechanisms involved in neuronal apoptosis mediated by organelle dysfunction.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed2005

Drug dependence, synaptic plasticity, and tissue plasminogen activator.

The mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system plays an important role in the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse, and the activity-dependent synaptic plasticity of the system is involved in drug dependence. A DNA microarray screening revealed that the expression levels of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) mRNA in the nucleus accumbens of morphine- or methamphetamine-dependent rats were significantly increased compared with those in control animals. Since tPA plays a role in synaptic plasticity, we hypothesized that tPA may contribute to the development of drug dependence. Single and repeated morphine treatment as well as repeated methamphetamine treatment induced tPA mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens, which was associated with an increase in the enzyme activity. Conditioned place preference induced by morphine was markedly reduced in mice with a targeted deletion of the tPA gene (tPA-/- mice), being accompanied by a loss of morphine-induced dopamine release. Similarly, methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference and locomotor sensitization were reduced in tPA-/- mice. The defects of morphine-induced hyperlocomotion as well as methamphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization in tPA-/- mice were reversed by microinjection of exogenous tPA or plasmin into the nucleus accumbens. These results support our hypothesis that tPA plays a role in long-lasting neuronal changes related to drug dependence.

Animals↗