Paternal methamphetamine exposure induces higher sensitivity to methamphetamine in male offspring through driving ADRB1 on CaMKII-positive neurons in mPFC

Paternal abuse of drugs, such as methamphetamine (METH), elevates the risk of developing addiction in subsequent generations, however, its underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Male adult mice (F0) were exposed to METH for 30 days, followed by mating with naïve female mice to create the first-generation mice (F1). When growing to adulthood, F1 were subjected to conditioned place preference (CPP) test. Subthreshold dose of METH (sd-METH), insufficient to induce CPP normally, were used in F1. Selective antagonist (betaxolol) for β1-adrenergic receptor (ADRB1) or its knocking-down virus were administrated into mPFC to regulate ADRB1 function and expression on CaMKII-positive neurons. METH-sired male F1 acquired sd-METH-induced CPP, indicating that paternal METH exposure induce higher sensitivity to METH in male F1. Compared with saline (SAL)-sired male F1, CaMKII-positive neuronal activity was normal without sd-METH, but strongly evoked after sd-METH treatment in METH-sired male F1 during adulthood. METH-sired male F1 had higher ADRB1 levels without sd-METH, which was kept at higher levels after sd-METH treatment in mPFC. Either inhibiting ADRB1 function with betaxolol, or knocking-down ADRB1 level on CaMKII-positive neurons (ADRB1(CaMKII)) with virus transfection efficiently suppressed sd-METH -evoked mPFC activation, and ultimately blocked sd-METH-induced CPP in METH-sired male F1. In the process, the p-ERK1/2 and ΔFosB may be potential subsequent signals of mPFC ADRB1(CaMKII). The mPFC ADRB1(CaMKII) mediates paternal METH exposure-induced higher sensitivity to drug addiction in male offspring, raising a promising pharmacological target for predicting or treating transgenerational addiction.