Methamphetamine injections cause widespread increases in caspase-8 expression in the mouse brain

Abstract EN

Methamphetamine administration can cause neuronal apoptotic death in the rat brain via activation of the extrinsic cell death pathway (Fas ligand/Fas/caspase-8 cascade).

In the present study, we injected mice with a toxic regimen of methamphetamine (10mg/kg×4 given at 2-h intervals) to assess the role of the Fas ligand/Fas/caspase-8 death pathway in their brain.

Methamphetamine did cause the appearance of TUNEL-positive cells in the frontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus of these animals.

The number of TUNEL-positive cells was higher in the striatum than in the frontal cortex and hippocampus.

Immunohistochemical and immunoblot techniques revealed significant methamphetamine-induced increases in Fas ligand expression and diffuse appearance of the active caspase-8 in these brain regions.

Taken together, our data suggest that methamphetamine can cause marked activation of the caspase-8-dependent death pathway in the brain.