Effect of methamphetamine on GDNF levels in the striatum
Wilfredo E. De Jesus-Monge1, Mohan Bikina2, Romeu Azevedo2, Suchandra Ghosh3, and Kenneth W. Grasing3
1University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR; 2Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; 3Clinical Research Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School), New Brunswick, NJ
GDNF (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) is a member of the transforming growth factor-b superfamily. It is a glycosylated homodimer discovered in 1993. GDNF promotes survival of dopaminergic neurons and restores their dopamine level to normal after being treated with a neurotoxin. Methamphetamine is an addictive central nervous system stimulant which causes a decrease in the number of dopaminergic neurons and dopamine content. Our hypothesis is that levels of GDNF will decrease due to free radical damage to glial cells caused by methamphetamine treatment. At two hour intervals mice received subcutaneous injections of solutions of either methamphetamine or saline, as a control treatment, with a total of four doses administered. Seven days later, they were sacrificed and rostral and caudal halves of the brain were removed and frozen. Sections of 0.5 mm containing the striatum and ventral tegmental area were cut on a cryostat. They were micropunched to obtain samples containing approximately 1.0 mg of tissue. GDNF will be assayed with an immunoassay in an antibody sandwich format, which can detect as little as 16 pg/mL of GDNF.
Presentation:
Biomedical Careers Program and Graduate Science Careers Program Research Symposium, University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, 1998
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