Involvement of pallidotegmental neurons in methamphetamine- and MK-801-induced impairment of prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex in mice: Reversal by GABA_B receptor agonist baclofen

We have previously demonstrated that pallidotegmental GABAergic neurons play a crucial role in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex in mice through the activation of GABA_B receptors in pedunculopontine tegmental neurons. In this study, we investigated whether PPI disruption induced by methamphetamine (METH) or MK-801 is associated with the dysfunction of pallidotegmental neurons. Furthermore, we examined the effects of baclofen, a GABA_B receptor agonist, on METH- and MK-801-induced PPI impairment. Acute treatment with METH (3 mg/kg, subcutaneouly (s.c.)) and MK-801 (>0.3 mg/kg, s.c.) significantly disrupted PPI, accompanied by the suppression of c-Fos expression in lateral globus pallidus induced by PPI. Furthermore, acute treatment with METH and MK-801 stimulated c-Fos expression in the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (PnC) in mice subjected to the PPT test, although PPI alone had no effect on c-Fos expression. Repeated treatment with 1 mg/kg METH for 7 days, which did not affect PPI acutely, showed similar effects on PPI and c-Fos expression to acute treatment with METH (3 mg/kg). Baclofen dose-dependently ameliorated PPI impairment induced by acute treatment with METH (3 mg/kg) and MK-801 (1 mg/kg), and decreased METH- and MK-801-stimulated c-Fos expression in PnC to the basal level. These results suggest that dysfunction of pallidotegmental neurons is involved in PPI disruption caused by METH and MK-801 in mice. GABA_B receptor may constitute a putative target in treating neuropsychiatric disorders with sensorimotor gating deficits, such as schizophrenia and METH psychosis.