Background and Objective: Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug associated with severe psychosocial consequences and is extensively abused. This study aimed to determine the effects of four weeks of aerobic exercise and berberine supplementation on the expression of dopamine 5 receptor and poly (adenosin diphosphat [ADP]-ribose polymerase (PARP) genes in the heart tissue of methamphetamine-exposed rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 30 female Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups of six: Control, methamphetamine, methamphetamine + aerobic exercise, methamphetamine + berberine, and methamphetamine + aerobic exercise + berberine. Intraperitoneal injections of methamphetamine (10 mg/kg) and aerobic exercise and berberine consumption (100 mg/kg) were administered for 4 weeks during the withdrawal period. The expression levels of dopamine 5 receptor and PARP genes was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: There was no significant difference in PARP gene expression between the methamphetamine group (1.02±0.65) and the control group (1.02±0.24). Similarly, there was no significant difference in dopamine 5 receptor gene expression between the methamphetamine group (5.74±4.94) and the control group (4.76±2.63). The expression levels of PARP and dopamine 5 receptor genes following exercise (1.01±0.55 and 4.30±1.96, respectively), berberine supplementation (0.61±0.25 and 2.97±1.45, respectively), and the combined intervention (0.67±0.30 and 3.43±1.87, respectively) showed no significant differences between the groups.
Conclusion: Short-term methamphetamine induction did not induce significant changes in the expression of dopamine 5 receptor and PARP genes in the hearts of methamphetamine-exposed rats.