Berberine hydrochloride attenuates voluntary methamphetamine consumption and anxiety-like behaviors via modulation of oxytocin receptors in methamphetamine addicted rats

• Published in: Physiology & behavior 2019-07, Vol.206, p.157-165
• Main Authors: Alavijeh, Mahnaz Mesripour, Vaezi, Gholamhassan, Khaksari, Mehdi, Hojati, Vida
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Berberine hydrocholoride; Drug preference; Methamphetamine addiction; Oxytocin receptor
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.03.024

Methamphetamine (METH) addiction is recognized as one of the major public health concerns, with no approved pharmacological agents for treatment. Berberine hydrochloride, an isoquinoline alkaloid in plants, induces antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects. Hence, we hypothesized that berberine may modulate the METH-induced rewarding effects. In this study, three groups of rat including control (N = 10), METH + vehicle (N = 10), and METH + berberine (N = 10) were kept in separate cages one day before expriments. METH (20 mg/L) was dissolved in tap water inside a bottle, while there was only tap water in the control bottle. Two groups received free METH solutions for two weeks (up to 12 mg/kg). Afterwards, they were abstianced for three weeks. Only one group received 100 mg/kg/day of berberine. After three weeks, locomotor activity and anxiety (elevated plus maze test) were evaluated, then the two-bottles choice model was used for one week to evaluate drug preferences. Finally, the brain of rats was removed for evaluation of oxytocin receptor expression via immunofluorescence staining method. The results showed that METH preference was lower in the berberine + METH group during drug intake compared to the METH group (P