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. 2017 Jun 1:327:94-97.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.03.030. Epub 2017 Mar 27.

Sex differences in the acute locomotor response to methamphetamine in BALB/c mice

Odochi Ohia-Nwoko  1 , Colin N Haile  1 , Therese A Kosten  2
Affiliations

Sex differences in the acute locomotor response to methamphetamine in BALB/c mice

Odochi Ohia-Nwoko et al. Behav Brain Res. .

Abstract

Women use methamphetamine more frequently than men and are more vulnerable to its negative psychological effects. Rodent models have been an essential tool for evaluating the sex-dependent effects of psychostimulants; however, evidence of sex differences in the behavioral responses to methamphetamine in mice is lacking. In the present study, we investigated acute methamphetamine-induced (1mg/kg and 4mg/kg) locomotor activation in female and male BALB/c mice. We also evaluated whether basal locomotor activity was associated with the methamphetamine-induced locomotor response. The results indicated that female BALB/c mice displayed enhanced methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity compared to males, while basal locomotor activity was positively correlated with methamphetamine-induced activity in males, but not females. This study is the first to show sex-dependent locomotor effects of methamphetamine in BALB/c mice. Our observations emphasize the importance of considering sex when assessing behavioral responses to methamphetamine.

Keywords: BALB/c mice; Locomotor activity; Methamphetamine; Sex differences.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Basal locomotor activity after vehicle (BASE) and locomotor activity after (A) 1 mg/kg or (B) 4 mg/kg of METH during the 90 min. session. Female mice displayed enhanced locomotor responses to METH versus male mice. Values are mean ± SEM. (*) denotes a significant difference between females and males.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Simple linear regression between basal locomotor activity and METH-induced locomotor activity in (A) females and (B) males. 1 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg METH doses were pooled for each sex. A significant correlation was observed in the males (p<0.001), but not the females (p>0.05).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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