Repeated Methamphetamine Administration Alters Expression of the NMDA Receptor Channel epsilon 2 Subunit and Kinesins in the Mouse Brain

Repeated amphetamine administration results in behavioral sensitization. Behavioral sensitization related to abuse and/or relapse may be associated with stable changes in gene expression. To explore the participating genes, we examined the changes in gene expression levels 24 h or 21 days (long-term withdrawal period) after chronic methamphetamine (METH) treatment for 2 weeks. The expression of several genes related to glutamatergic neural transmission was altered, although changes in the corresponding protein expression were not always consistent with the results for mRNA expression. Of interest, in the frontal cortex of mice treated with METH for 2 weeks, protein expression levels of KIF17 and the N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) receptor channel epsilon 2 subunit (NR epsilon 2) were concomitantly increased. The alteration in expression of these proteins, KIF17 and NR epsilon 2, might be a part of the molecular basis of the behavioral sensitization to METH.