The Study On Methamphetamine Regulating The Expression Of ERK

Methamphetamine is one of nerve stimulants, which is extensively used. It excites user and induces euphoria, hallucination. These effects result from dramatically increasing in dopamine and serotonin by methamphetamine. If methamphetamine administration lasts, it will induce dependence, repalse et al adiction.The relapse by methamphamine is related with reward circuit included Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAc), prefrontal cortex (PFc) and enhanced memory circuit included VTA, NAc, hippocampus (Hip). Extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway is associated with addiction. There are many pathways to stimulate ERK activation, which is involved in the action of METH. Research on ERK pathway is helpful to understand mechanism on the addcition by methamphetamine.This research used1mM methamphetamine to stimulate PC12cells for a short time course0、10、20、30、45、60miuntes, and dectcted p-ERK、ERK by Western Blot. The results showed that expression of p-ERK was increased.This research detected the expressions of these proteins in mice, the ERK was detected in VTA/NAc/PFC/HiP after METH2.5mg/kg/d treatment for4h. The downsteam of ERK, such as cAMP response element binding protein(CREB), cyclin depdent kinase5(CDK5), changed accordinglyThe difference was compared between wild group and thioredoxin-1(Trx-1) overespression transgenic mice. The overexpression of Trx-1reversed part of these proteins in different brain areas.This research demonstrates ERK pathway is exactly associated with the actute action of methamphetamine. This research provided a new theory basement. Although the role of ERK pathway in addiction by METH needs to be further studied, ERK pathway may be a new target for treatment on addiction by METH.