αCaMKII autophosphorylation mediates neuronal activation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus after alcohol and cocaine in mice

Neurosci Lett. 2015 Mar 30:591:65-68. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.02.031. Epub 2015 Feb 17.

Abstract

Psychoactive drug-induced cellular activation is a key mechanism to promote neuronal plasticity and addiction. Alpha Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (αCaMKII) and its autophosphorylation play a key role in the development of drug use associated behaviours. It has been suggested that αCaMKII autophosphorylation is necessary for drug-induced neuronal activation in the mesolimbic system. Here, we show an alcohol- and cocaine-induced increase in c-fos expression in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, which is absent in αCaMKII(T286A) autophosphorylation deficient mice. These findings may suggest a role in hippocampal αCaMKII autophosphorylation in the acute neuroplastic effects of alcohol and cocaine.

Keywords: C-fos; Hippocampus; Immunohistochemistry; αcaMKII(T286A).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Dentate Gyrus / drug effects*
  • Dentate Gyrus / metabolism
  • Ethanol / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Ethanol
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Cocaine