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  • Expression of HIV gp120 protein increases sensitivity to the rewarding properties of methamphetamine in mice.

Expression of HIV gp120 protein increases sensitivity to the rewarding properties of methamphetamine in mice.

Addiction biology (2012-12-21)
James P Kesby, David T Hubbard, Athina Markou, Svetlana Semenova
ABSTRACT

Methamphetamine abuse and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection induce neuropathological changes in corticolimbic brain areas involved in reward and cognitive function. Little is known about the combined effects of methamphetamine and HIV infection on cognitive and reward processes. The HIV/gp120 protein induces neurodegeneration in mice, similar to HIV-induced pathology in humans. We investigated the effects of gp120 expression on associative learning, preference for methamphetamine and non-drug reinforcers, and sensitivity to the conditioned rewarding properties of methamphetamine in transgenic (tg) mice expressing HIV/gp120 protein (gp120-tg). gp120-tg mice learned the operant response for food at the same rate as non-tg mice. In the two-bottle choice procedure with restricted access to drugs, gp120-tg mice exhibited greater preference for methamphetamine and saccharin than non-tg mice, whereas preference for quinine was similar between genotypes. Under conditions of unrestricted access to methamphetamine, the mice exhibited a decreased preference for increasing methamphetamine concentrations. However, male gp120-tg mice showed a decreased preference for methamphetamine at lower concentrations than non-tg male mice. gp120-tg mice developed methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference at lower methamphetamine doses compared with non-tg mice. No differences in methamphetamine pharmacokinetics were found between genotypes. These results indicate that gp120-tg mice exhibit no deficits in associative learning or reward/motivational function for a natural reinforcer. Interestingly, gp120 expression resulted in increased preference for methamphetamine and a highly palatable non-drug reinforcer (saccharin) and increased sensitivity to methamphetamine-induced conditioned reward. These data suggest that HIV-positive individuals may have increased sensitivity to methamphetamine, leading to high methamphetamine abuse potential in this population.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Saccharin, ≥98%
Supelco
Saccharin, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
Saccharin, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard
Sigma-Aldrich
Saccharin, ≥99%
USP
Saccharin, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard
Sigma-Aldrich
Quinine, 90%
Sigma-Aldrich
Quinine, suitable for fluorescence, anhydrous, ≥98.0% (dried material, NT)
Supelco
Quinine, certified reference material, TraceCERT®, Manufactured by: Sigma-Aldrich Production GmbH, Switzerland
Supelco
Mettler-Toledo Calibration substance ME 51143091, Saccharin, traceable to primary standards (LGC)