Repeated administration of methamphetamine blocked cholecystokinin-octapeptide injection-induced c-fos mRNA expression without change in capsaicin-induced junD mRNA expression in rat cerebellum.

In the cerebellum, there are numerous cholecystokinin (CCK-8)-containing fibers. Since systemic CCK-8 injection-induced anxiety (psychological stress) activates the locus coeruleus cells that send mossy fiber inputs to the cerebellum, we examined whether systemic CCK-8 injections activate the rat and mouse cerebellum. First, injections of CCK-8 were found to induce c-fos mRNA expression in a vague patchy pattern that is different from single methamphetamine-induced Zebrin band-like c-fos mRNA expression, suggesting that the CCK-8 activating mossy fibers induce gene expression differently from the dopamine-containing mossy fibers in the ventral tegmental area. Second, since CCK-8 facilitates neural activity of dopamine in the midbrain, we examined whether repeated methamphetamine administration that induced behavioral sensitization had similar effects on the cerebellar CCK system. Repeated administration of methamphetamine suppressed the CCK-8-induced c-fos mRNA expression in the rat cerebellum. Third, capsaicin injections (physical stress) into a hind limb of the rat increased junD mRNA expression with no effect on c-fos mRNA expression, and repeated methamphetamine injections had no effect on the capsaicin-induced expression of junD mRNA. Fourth, either single injection of methamphetamine or CCK-8 to mice increased c-fos mRNA expression in the locus coeruleus, and so noradrenalin, but not dopamine, might interact with CCK-8-activating system. However, we considered the possibility unlikely. Thus, we conclude that repeated methamphetamine administration though dopamine selectively inhibits the c-fos mRNA expression after CCK-8 injection in the cerebellum.