Effects of low dose methamphetamine in a Drosophila melanogaster model of traumatic brain injury (TBI)

RM 211

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to about 30% of all injury-related deaths in the United States. A TBI is caused by a bump or blow to the head that interrupts the normal functioning of the brain. Previous studies have demonstrated methamphetamine efficacy in a rat model with severe TBI. The present study examined the effects of methamphetamine in a Drosophila melanogaster model of TBI. The two Drosophila strains that were used in this study are 00C (n = 1300; male) and Aβ-42 (n = 1300; male.) Aβ-42 flies express a mutant peptide that results in an Alzheimer’s phenotype. 00C serves as the control strain. Aβ-42 flies were utilized because it has been shown that Alzheimer’s may occur as a long-term result of TBI. TBI was induced in 0-1 days old flies using the high intensity trauma (HIT) device. The treatment groups receive methamphetamine (0.06% per day) in a fixed-dose schedule across 25 treatment days. The Lifespan and health-span assays were performed both before and during the treatment. One-way ANOVA results showed that there wasn’t a significant effect of methamphetamine on 00C and Aβ42 flies with/without TBI for the condition (p > 0.05.) In contrast with previous research, our study found that methamphetamine was not effective in improving the TBI condition amongst Drosophila. A likely explanation is that a lower dosage of methamphetamine was used. In conclusion methamphetamine, at the state dosage doesn’t seem to benefit Drosophila with TBI in either strain.