FIG 5.

Methamphetamine increases mitochondrial translocation of DRP1 in HIV-treated neurons, leading to mitochondrial fission and altered mitochondrial dynamics. Neurons were immunostained with antibodies specific to DRP1 (magenta) and 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (blue) for nuclei. (A) Vehicle-treated cells display a basal level of DRP1 expression, as shown by the white arrows. (B to H) Confocal laser microscopy analysis shows increased expression and translocation of DRP1 to the perinuclear area, as shown by the white dashed arrows. (I to P) NAC pretreatment abolished DRP1 translocation, association to the mitochondria, and mitochondrial fission in HIV- and methamphetamine-treated human neuronal cells (indicated by the white arrows). Scale bar, 10 μm.