# Methamphetamine Effects on Prefrontal Cortical  PV+ Interneurons and Resulting Cognitive Deficits

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2022 · $117,019

## Abstract

SUMMARY
This Diversity Supplement support is for Dr. Monserrat Armenta-Resendiz in the laboratory of Dr Antonieta Lavin
at the Medical University of South Carolina with additional mentorship by Dr. Carmela Reichel and Tom Jhou.
Dr. Armenta-Resendiz is a Latina woman whose goal is to become an independent scientist in a field that will
intersect drug addiction, cognitive deficits and sex differences. Dr Armenta-Resendiz needs to acquire
additional technical skills, enhance her professional skills, and develop an academic profile to ensure she is in a
competitive position to apply for R type founding and tenure track academic positions.
 The objective of the parent R01 (DA 054589-01) is is to identify the effects of METH-SA on the activity of
cortical parvalbumin positive fast spiking interneurons (PV+FSIs) and the resulting changes in E-I ratio. The
central hypothesis- informed by strong preliminary data and literature- is that METH treatment elicits cognitive
deficits due to an increase in GABAergic synaptic transmission in the PFC via D1R activation of PV+FSIs. The
proposal’s rationale is that the experiments will yield fundamental knowledge pertaining to the understanding
of the cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying hypofrontality induced by METH and will provide new insights
into the basic mechanisms governing E-I balance in the prefrontal cortex. We will test the central hypothesis by
pursuing the following specific aims: Aim 1 will determine the role of PV+FSIs in METH-induced cognitive
deficits. Aim 2 will determine whether D1R signaling in PFC PV+FSIs is required for METH-induced
enhancements of GABAergic transmission. Aim 3 will determine whether D1R signaling in PFC PV+FSIs is
required for METH SA-induced cognitive deficits and METH reinstatement. The proposed research is significant
because it will fill a fundamental gap in knowledge pertaining to the mechanisms underlying hypofrontality in
METH-addiction and the effects of the psychostimulant in the activity of cortical PV+FSIs. Furthermore, the
knowledge obtained from the proposed experiments will help to develop effective treatments to ameliorate drug-
related cognitive deficits and can provide new insights into the basic mechanisms underlying hypofrontality in
other neuropsychiatric conditions.
 To support the training of Dr Armenta-Resendiz, we have developed an additional aim that extends and
complements the parent RO1. 1. She will implement fiber photometry assessments of DA and Glutamate
sensors in the PFC of METH and SAL male and female rats during the performance of a cognitive task (Temporal
Order Memory) in vivo. This training program will provide Dr Armenta-Resendiz with additional skills in fiber
photometry, sex defenses and behavior. She will also receive additional mentorship from a diverse team and
trainings to ensure she is fully equipped for her chosen career path.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10618014
- **Project number:** 3R01DA054589-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** ANTONIETA LAVIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $117,019
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10618014

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10618014, Methamphetamine Effects on Prefrontal Cortical  PV+ Interneurons and Resulting Cognitive Deficits (3R01DA054589-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10618014. Licensed CC0.

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