Methamphetamine (METH) abuse produces serious neurotoxicity to the central nervous system along with long-term cognitive dysfunction. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol, has broad application prospects in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate whether resveratrol might alleviate METH-induced memory deficits in vivo. We found that multiple exposures to METH significantly impaired cognitive functions and caused long-lasting memory deficits (p < .05). Pretreatment of resveratrol (10 or 100 mg/kg) remarkably attenuated METH-induced memory impairment in mice (p < .05). Bioinformatics analysis results showed that resveratrol might alleviate memory deficits by inhibiting METH-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis. Molecular docking showed that resveratrol had hydrogen bonding interactions with Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1), a repressor protein of the classic antioxidant Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Further results validated oxidative stress parameters, apoptosis, and expression of Keap1 were significantly increased, while the translocation and activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) into the nucleus and expression of its downstream proteins were greatly decreased in the hippocampus after METH exposure (p < .05). These changes caused by METH could be prevented by resveratrol (p < .05). Therefore, these findings suggested that the prevention of resveratrol on memory dysfunction induced by METH was possibly related to the activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and reduction of apoptosis. Supplementation of resveratrol could be a potential treatment for preventing the neurotoxicity of METH in the future. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: As one of the worst commonly abused psychostimulants, methamphetamine (METH) addiction produces serious complications including cognitive impairment and memory deficits. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol that has important nutritional supplements and protective effects in the treatment of many neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, the results of bioinformatics prediction and experimental validation showed that resveratrol might effectively prevent memory impairment via the interaction with Keap1, activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, and inhibition of DNA damage and apoptotic responses post METH exposure. Therefore, these findings provide new ideas and insights into the application of resveratrol in the treatment of nervous system damage caused by METH.
Keywords: Keap1-Nrf2 pathway; apoptosis; memory deficits; methamphetamine; resveratrol.
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