Methamphetamine injection during pregnancy decreases STIM2 in different brain regions of rat’s offspring

Background and Aim : There has been a large increase in the overall abuse of Methamphetamine (MA) in recent years and indications report that its use among pregnant women may also be increasing. Whereas its use continues to grow worldwide, yet what is known about the effects of use during pregnancy is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate calcium release form intracellular calcium stores, following prenatal MA exposure, in the rat’s offspring through measurement of STIM2.Methods : : Female Wistar rats, weighing an average of 200 were used. All rats were kept in temperature-controlled room (25±10), on a 12 h (light): 12 h (dark) cycle. Female rats were housed with male rats and there was always two females one male per cage. From the day 10 to 20 of gestation female rats were intraperitoneally injected with MA (2 and 5 mg/kg) at 10 a.m. per day. Pups were sacrificed 8 to 10 weeks after birth then STIM2 levels in the Hippocampus, Amygdala and Prefrontal cortex areas were measured via western blotting test.Results : Data have shown that STIM2 level decreased in prenatally MA induced male and female rats in comparison to control group. Statistical analysis revealed that there were significant difference in the STIM2 level in Hippocampus (P<0.0001), Amygdala (P<0.0001) and in Prefrontal cortex (P<0.0001) of male rats between groups. Also in female rats there were significant difference in the STIM2 level in Hippocampus (P<0.0001), Amygdala (P=0.0006), Prefrontal cortex (P<0.0001) between groups.Conclusion : Our data demonstrated that treatment with MA decreases STIM2 levels and as STIM2 is a key regulator of Ca2+ channels therefore it interferes with calcium release from intracellular calcium stores.

Keywords:

STIM2 , Pregnancy , Methamphetamine