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Wang KC, Ojeda NB, Wang H, Chiang HS, Tucci MA, Lee JW, Wei HC, Kaizaki-Mitsumoto A, Tanaka S, Dankhara N, Tien LT, Fan LW. Neonatal brain inflammation enhances methamphetamine-induced reinstated behavioral sensitization in adult rats analyzed with explainable machine learning. Neurochem Int 2024; 176:105743. [PMID: 38641026 PMCID: PMC11102812 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Neonatal brain inflammation produced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) results in long-lasting brain dopaminergic injury and motor disturbances in adult rats. The goal of the present work is to investigate the effect of neonatal systemic LPS exposure (1 or 2 mg/kg, i.p. injection in postnatal day 5, P5, male rats)-induced dopaminergic injury to examine methamphetamine (METH)-induced behavioral sensitization as an indicator of drug addiction. On P70, subjects underwent a treatment schedule of 5 once daily subcutaneous (s.c.) administrations of METH (0.5 mg/kg) (P70-P74) to induce behavioral sensitization. Ninety-six hours following the 5th treatment of METH (P78), the rats received one dose of 0.5 mg/kg METH (s.c.) to reintroduce behavioral sensitization. Hyperlocomotion is a critical index caused by drug abuse, and METH administration has been shown to produce remarkable locomotor-enhancing effects. Therefore, a random forest model was used as the detector to extract the feature interaction patterns among the collected high-dimensional locomotor data. Our approaches identified neonatal systemic LPS exposure dose and METH-treated dates as features significantly associated with METH-induced behavioral sensitization, reinstated behavioral sensitization, and perinatal inflammation in this experimental model of drug addiction. Overall, the analysis suggests that the implementation of machine learning strategies is sensitive enough to detect interaction patterns in locomotor activity. Neonatal LPS exposure also enhanced METH-induced reduction of dopamine transporter expression and [3H]dopamine uptake, reduced mitochondrial complex I activity, and elevated interleukin-1β and cyclooxygenase-2 concentrations in the P78 rat striatum. These results indicate that neonatal systemic LPS exposure produces a persistent dopaminergic lesion leading to a long-lasting change in the brain reward system as indicated by the enhanced METH-induced behavioral sensitization and reinstated behavioral sensitization later in life. These findings indicate that early-life brain inflammation may enhance susceptibility to drug addiction development later in life, which provides new insights for developing potential therapeutic treatments for drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Ching Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Norma B Ojeda
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA; Department of Advanced Biomedical Education, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Haifeng Wang
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA
| | - Han-Sun Chiang
- School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Xinzhuang Dist, New Taipei City, 24205, Taiwan
| | - Michelle A Tucci
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Jonathan W Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Han-Chi Wei
- School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Xinzhuang Dist, New Taipei City, 24205, Taiwan
| | - Asuka Kaizaki-Mitsumoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA; Department of Toxicology, Showa University Graduate School of Pharmacy, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 142-8555, Japan
| | - Sachiko Tanaka
- Center for Research and Development in Pharmacy Education, School of Pharmacy, Nihon University, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8555, Japan
| | - Nilesh Dankhara
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Lu-Tai Tien
- School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Xinzhuang Dist, New Taipei City, 24205, Taiwan.
| | - Lir-Wan Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Newborn Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
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Kunkler C, Lewis AJ, Almeida R. Methamphetamine exposure during pregnancy: A meta-analysis of child developmental outcomes. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104714. [PMID: 35661684 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
This paper examines developmental outcomes for children prenatally exposed to methamphetamine through maternal use. PSYCHINFO, Scopus, PubMed and ERIC databases were systematically searched for studies up to December 2020. The search identified 38 articles examining cognitive, language, motor and neuroanatomical outcomes in children from birth to 16 years. Study quality was appraised using the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Findings from neuroanatomical studies suggested that prenatal methamphetamine exposure may alter whole brain microstructure and reduce subcortical volumes across multiple brain regions. Meta-analysis of 14 studies using a random-effects model revealed associations between exposure and poorer intellectual functioning (Cohen's d = 0.89, 95 % CI: 0.47-1.30), problem solving skills (Cohen's d = 0.82, 95 % CI: 0.07 -1.56), short-term memory (Cohen's d = 0.91, 95 % CI: 0.38-1.43), and language development (Cohen's d = 0.74, 95 % CI: 0.30-1.18). These results emphasise the significant impact of intrauterine methamphetamine exposure across multiple areas of child development, noting that limited total sample size, heterogeneity between studies and control for confounds suggested further studies are required. There is a need for further intervention studies to identify effective prevention and harm minimisation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew J Lewis
- School of Psychology, Murdoch University, Australia; Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Level 2, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, 11 Robin Warren Drive, MURDOCH WA 6150.
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Wu M, Su H, Zhao M. The Role of α-Synuclein in Methamphetamine-Induced Neurotoxicity. Neurotox Res 2021; 39:1007-1021. [PMID: 33555547 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-021-00332-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (METH), a highly addictive psychostimulant, is the second most widely used illicit drug. METH produces damage dopamine neurons and apoptosis via multiple inter-regulating mechanisms, including dopamine overload, hyperthermia, oxidative stress, mitochondria dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, protein degradation system dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Increasing evidence suggests that chronic METH abuse is associated with neurodegenerative changes in the human brain and an increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). METH use and PD may share some common steps in causing neurotoxicity. Accumulation of α-synuclein, a presynaptic protein, is the pathological hallmark of PD. Intriguingly, α-synuclein upregulation and aggregation are also found in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra in chronic METH users. This suggests α-synuclein may play a role in METH-induced neurotoxicity. The mechanism of α-synuclein cytotoxicity in PD has attracted considerable attention; however, how α-synuclein affects METH-induced neurotoxicity has not been reviewed. In this review, we summarize the relationship between METH use and PD, interdependent mechanisms that are involved in METH-induced neurotoxicity and the significance of α-synuclein upregulation in response to METH use. The identification of α-synuclein overexpression and aggregation as a contributor to METH-induced neurotoxicity may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of the deleterious effect of this drug and drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manqing Wu
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hang Su
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Shanghai, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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4
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Fultz EK, Quadir SG, Martin D, Flaherty DM, Worley PF, Kippin TE, Szumlinski KK. ERK-Directed Phosphorylation of mGlu5 Gates Methamphetamine Reward and Reinforcement in Mouse. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031473. [PMID: 33540617 PMCID: PMC7867251 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is a highly addictive psychomotor stimulant drug. In recent years, MA use has increased exponentially on a global scale, with the number of MA-involved deaths reaching epidemic proportions. There is no approved pharmacotherapy for treating MA use disorder, and we know relatively little regarding the neurobiological determinants of vulnerability to this disease. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is an important signaling molecule implicated in the long-lasting neuroadaptations purported to underlie the development of substance use disorders, but the role for this kinase in the propensity to develop addiction, particularly MA use disorder, is uncharacterized. In a previous MA-induced place-conditioning study of C57BL/6J mice, we characterized mice as MA-preferring, -neutral, or -avoiding and collected tissue from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Using immunoblotting, we determined that elevated phosphorylated ERK expression within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a biochemical correlate of the affective valence of MA in a population of C57BL/6J mice. We confirmed the functional relevance for mPFC ERK activation for MA-induced place-preference via site-directed infusion of the MEK inhibitor U0126. By contrast, ERK inhibition did not have any effect upon MA-induced locomotion or its sensitization upon repeated MA treatment. Through studies of transgenic mice with alanine point mutations on T1123/S1126 of mGlu5 that disrupt ERK-dependent phosphorylation of the receptor, we discovered that ERK-dependent mGlu5 phosphorylation normally suppresses MA-induced conditioned place-preference (MA-CPP), but is necessary for this drug’s reinforcing properties. If relevant to humans, the present results implicate individual differences in the capacity of MA-associated cues/contexts to hyper-activate ERK signaling within mPFC in MA Use Disorder vulnerability and pose mGlu5 as one ERK-directed target contributing to the propensity to seek out and take MA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa K. Fultz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (E.K.F.); (S.G.Q.); (D.M.); (D.M.F.); (T.E.K.)
| | - Sema G. Quadir
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (E.K.F.); (S.G.Q.); (D.M.); (D.M.F.); (T.E.K.)
| | - Douglas Martin
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (E.K.F.); (S.G.Q.); (D.M.); (D.M.F.); (T.E.K.)
| | - Daniel M. Flaherty
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (E.K.F.); (S.G.Q.); (D.M.); (D.M.F.); (T.E.K.)
| | - Paul F. Worley
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Tod E. Kippin
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (E.K.F.); (S.G.Q.); (D.M.); (D.M.F.); (T.E.K.)
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Karen K. Szumlinski
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; (E.K.F.); (S.G.Q.); (D.M.); (D.M.F.); (T.E.K.)
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and the Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-805-893-2987; Fax: +1-805-893-4303
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5
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Resting-state effective connectivity in the motive circuit of methamphetamine users: A case controlled fMRI study. Behav Brain Res 2020; 383:112498. [PMID: 31978492 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) and other psychostimulants target the motive circuit of the brain, which is involved in reward, behavioral sensitization, and relapse to drug-seeking/taking behavior. In spite of this fact, the data regarding the effective connectivity (EC) in this circuit among MA users is scarce. The present study aimed to assess resting-state EC in the motive circuit of MA users during abstinence using the fMRI technique. Seventeen MA users after abstinence and 18 normal controls were examined using a 3 T Siemens fMRI scanner. After extracting time series of the motive circuit, EC differences in the motive circuit were analyzed using dynamic causal modeling (DCM). The findings revealed that abstinent MA users had an enhanced EC from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to the ventral palladium (VP) (PFC→VP) and on the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) self-loop (MD→MD), but they showed a decreased connectivity on the VP self-loop (VP→VP) compared to healthy controls. The findings suggest that abstinent MA users may suffer from a limited pathology in connectivity within the motive circuit involved in reward, behavioral sensitization, and relapse. The enhanced PFC→VP seems to be a compensatory mechanism to control or regulate the subcortical regions involved in reward and behavioral sensitization. Furthermore, the enhanced connectivity on the MD self-loop and the decreased connectivity on the VP self-loop in abstinent MA users may, at least partially, affect the output of the limbic system, which can be seen in the behavioral sensitization and relapse processes. Nonetheless, further investigation in this area is strongly recommended to elucidate the exact mechanisms involved.
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Pantoni MM, Anagnostaras SG. Cognitive Effects of MDMA in Laboratory Animals: A Systematic Review Focusing on Dose. Pharmacol Rev 2019; 71:413-449. [PMID: 31249067 DOI: 10.1124/pr.118.017087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that is primarily used recreationally but also may have some therapeutic value. At low doses, MDMA produces feelings of relaxation, empathy, emotional closeness, and euphoria. Higher doses can produce unpleasant psychostimulant- and hallucinogen-like adverse effects and therefore are usually not taken intentionally. There is considerable evidence that MDMA produces neurotoxicity and cognitive deficits at high doses; however, these findings may not generalize to typical recreational or therapeutic use of low-dose MDMA. Here, we systematically review 25 years of research on the cognitive effects of MDMA in animals, with a critical focus on dose. We found no evidence that doses of less than 3 mg/kg MDMA-the dose range that users typically take-produce cognitive deficits in animals. Doses of 3 mg/kg or greater, which were administered most often and frequently ranged from 5 to 20 times greater than an average dose, also did not produce cognitive deficits in a slight majority of experiments. Overall, the preclinical evidence of MDMA-induced cognitive deficits is weak and, if anything, may be the result of unrealistically high dosing. While factors associated with recreational use such as polydrug use, adulterants, hyperthermia, and hyponatremia can increase the potential for neurotoxicity, the short-term, infrequent, therapeutic use of ultra low-dose MDMA is unlikely to pose significant cognitive risks. Future studies must examine any adverse cognitive effects of MDMA using clinically relevant doses to reliably assess its potential as a psychotherapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline M Pantoni
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology (M.M.P., S.G.A.) and Program in Neurosciences (S.G.A.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Stephan G Anagnostaras
- Molecular Cognition Laboratory, Department of Psychology (M.M.P., S.G.A.) and Program in Neurosciences (S.G.A.), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
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7
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Tserovski S, Georgieva S, Bogdanova D, Matev B. Myogenic fibrosis of the flexor tendons after amphetamine drug abuse. J Surg Case Rep 2019; 2019:rjy366. [PMID: 30740204 PMCID: PMC6354760 DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjy366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Myogenic fibrosis of the flexor tendons in a 23-year-old patient was caused by intense drug abuse. He was presented in the clinic with spastic flexor tendon contracture of his right hand. The patient was treated by tendon elongation with a satisfactory result. The treatment of flexor tendon contracture in those cases is very difficult and needs to be done in a complex way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Tserovski
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Simona Georgieva
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | - Boris Matev
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
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8
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Bowyer JF, Tranter KM, Sarkar S, George NI, Hanig JP, Kelly KA, Michalovicz LT, Miller DB, O'Callaghan JP. Corticosterone and exogenous glucose alter blood glucose levels, neurotoxicity, and vascular toxicity produced by methamphetamine. J Neurochem 2017; 143:198-213. [PMID: 28792619 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Our previous studies have raised the possibility that altered blood glucose levels may influence and/or be predictive of methamphetamine (METH) neurotoxicity. This study evaluated the effects of exogenous glucose and corticosterone (CORT) pretreatment alone or in combination with METH on blood glucose levels and the neural and vascular toxicity produced. METH exposure consisted of four sequential injections of 5, 7.5, 10, and 10 mg/kg (2 h between injections) D-METH. The three groups given METH in combination with saline, glucose (METH+Glucose), or CORT (METH+CORT) had significantly higher glucose levels compared to the corresponding treatment groups without METH except at 3 h after the last injection. At this last time point, the METH and METH+Glucose groups had lower levels than the non-METH groups, while the METH+CORT group did not. CORT alone or glucose alone did not significantly increase blood glucose. Mortality rates for the METH+CORT (40%) and METH+Glucose (44%) groups were substantially higher than the METH (< 10%) group. Additionally, METH+CORT significantly increased neurodegeneration above the other three METH treatment groups (≈ 2.5-fold in the parietal cortex). Thus, maintaining elevated levels of glucose during METH exposure increases lethality and may exacerbate neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation, specifically microglial activation, was associated with degenerating neurons in the parietal cortex and thalamus after METH exposure. The activated microglia in the parietal cortex were surrounding vasculature in most cases and the extent of microglial activation was exacerbated by CORT pretreatment. Our findings show that acute CORT exposure and elevated blood glucose levels can exacerbate METH-induced vascular damage, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and lethality. Cover Image for this issue: doi. 10.1111/jnc.13819.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Bowyer
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicology/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Karen M Tranter
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicology/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Sumit Sarkar
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicology/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Nysia I George
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Joseph P Hanig
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research/FDA Silver Spring, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Kimberly A Kelly
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morgantown, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Lindsay T Michalovicz
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morgantown, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Diane B Miller
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morgantown, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - James P O'Callaghan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morgantown, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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Effects of dexamphetamine-induced dopamine release on resting-state network connectivity in recreational amphetamine users and healthy controls. Brain Imaging Behav 2017; 10:548-58. [PMID: 26149196 PMCID: PMC4908160 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-015-9419-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Dexamphetamine (dAMPH) is not only used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but also as a recreational drug. Acutely, dAMPH induces release of predominantly dopamine (DA) in the striatum, and in the cortex both DA and noradrenaline. Recent animal studies have shown that chronic dAMPH administration can induce changes in the DA system following long-term exposure, as evidenced by reductions in DA transporters, D2/3 receptors and endogenous DA levels. However, only a limited number of studies have investigated the effects of dAMPH in the human brain. We used a combination of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and [(123)I]IBZM single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) (to assess baseline D2/3 receptor binding and DA release) in 15 recreational AMPH users and 20 matched healthy controls to investigate the short-, and long-term effects of AMPH before and after an acute intravenous challenge with dAMPH. We found that acute dAMPH administration reduced functional connectivity in the cortico-striatal-thalamic network. dAMPH-induced DA release, but not DA D2/3 receptor binding, was positively associated with connectivity changes in this network. In addition, acute dAMPH reduced connectivity in default mode networks and salience-executive-networks networks in both groups. In contrast to our hypothesis, no significant group differences were found in any of the rs-fMRI networks investigated, possibly due to lack of sensitivity or compensatory mechanisms. Our findings thus support the use of ICA-based resting-state functional connectivity as a tool to investigate acute, but not chronic, alterations induced by dAMPH on dopaminergic processing in the striatum.
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10
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Schrantee A, Tremoleda JL, Wylezinska-Arridge M, Bouet V, Hesseling P, Meerhoff GF, de Bruin KM, Koeleman J, Freret T, Boulouard M, Desfosses E, Galineau L, Gozzi A, Dauphin F, Gsell W, Booij J, Lucassen PJ, Reneman L. Repeated dexamphetamine treatment alters the dopaminergic system and increases the phMRI response to methylphenidate. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172776. [PMID: 28241065 PMCID: PMC5328278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dexamphetamine (AMPH) is a psychostimulant drug that is used both recreationally and as medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that repeated exposure to AMPH can induce damage to nerve terminals of dopamine (DA) neurons. We here assessed the underlying neurobiological changes in the DA system following repeated AMPH exposure and pre-treated rats with AMPH or saline (4 times 5 mg/kg s.c., 2 hours apart), followed by a 1-week washout period. We then used pharmacological MRI (phMRI) with a methylphenidate (MPH) challenge, as a sensitive and non-invasive in-vivo measure of DAergic function. We subsequently validated the DA-ergic changes post-mortem, using a.o. high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and autoradiography. In the AMPH pre-treated group, we observed a significantly larger BOLD response to the MPH challenge, particularly in DA-ergic brain areas and their downstream projections. Subsequent autoradiography studies showed that AMPH pre-treatment significantly reduced DA transporter (DAT) density in the caudate-putamen (CPu) and nucleus accumbens, whereas HPLC analysis revealed increases in the DA metabolite homovanillic acid in the CPu. Our results suggest that AMPH pre-treatment alters DAergic responsivity, a change that can be detected with phMRI in rats. These phMRI changes likely reflect increased DA release together with reduced DAT binding. The ability to assess subtle synaptic changes using phMRI is promising for both preclinical studies of drug discovery, and for clinical studies where phMRI can be a useful tool to non-invasively investigate DA abnormalities, e.g. in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouk Schrantee
- Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biological Imaging Centre, Imperial College London, White City, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Jordi L. Tremoleda
- Biological Imaging Centre, Imperial College London, White City, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Trauma Sciences, The Blizard Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marzena Wylezinska-Arridge
- Biological Imaging Centre, Imperial College London, White City, London, United Kingdom
- Neuroradiological Academic Unit, Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valentine Bouet
- Normandie-Université, GMPc, EA 4259, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Peter Hesseling
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gideon F. Meerhoff
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kora M. de Bruin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Koeleman
- Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Freret
- Normandie-Université, GMPc, EA 4259, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Michel Boulouard
- Normandie-Université, GMPc, EA 4259, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Emilie Desfosses
- UMR Inserm U930, Université François-Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Laurent Galineau
- UMR Inserm U930, Université François-Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Alessandro Gozzi
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @ UNITN, Rovereto, Italy
| | - François Dauphin
- Normandie-Université, GMPc, EA 4259, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Willy Gsell
- Biological Imaging Centre, Imperial College London, White City, London, United Kingdom
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Booij
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. Lucassen
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth Reneman
- Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Huff CL, Morano RL, Herman JP, Yamamoto BK, Gudelsky GA. MDMA decreases glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 67-immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampus and increases seizure susceptibility: Role for glutamate. Neurotoxicology 2016; 57:282-290. [PMID: 27773601 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) is a unique psychostimulant that continues to be a popular drug of abuse. It has been well documented that MDMA reduces markers of 5-HT axon terminals in rodents, as well as humans. A loss of parvalbumin-immunoreactive (IR) interneurons in the hippocampus following MDMA treatment has only been documented recently. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that MDMA reduces glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 67-IR, another biochemical marker of GABA neurons, in the hippocampus and that this reduction in GAD67-IR neurons and an accompanying increase in seizure susceptibility involve glutamate receptor activation. Repeated exposure to MDMA (3×10mg/kg, ip) resulted in a reduction of 37-58% of GAD67-IR cells in the dentate gyrus (DG), CA1, and CA3 regions, as well as an increased susceptibility to kainic acid-induced seizures, both of which persisted for at least 30days following MDMA treatment. Administration of the NMDA antagonist MK-801 or the glutamate transporter type 1 (GLT-1) inducer ceftriaxone prevented both the MDMA-induced loss of GAD67-IR neurons and the increased vulnerability to kainic acid-induced seizures. The MDMA-induced increase in the extracellular concentration of glutamate in the hippocampus was significantly diminished in rats treated with ceftriaxone, thereby implicating a glutamatergic mechanism in the neuroprotective effects of ceftriaxone. In summary, the present findings support a role for increased extracellular glutamate and NMDA receptor activation in the MDMA-induced loss of hippocampal GAD67-IR neurons and the subsequent increased susceptibility to evoked seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney L Huff
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Cincinnati-James Winkle College of Pharmacy, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Rachel L Morano
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati-College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45219, United States
| | - James P Herman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati-College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45219, United States
| | - Bryan K Yamamoto
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University-School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Gary A Gudelsky
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Cincinnati-James Winkle College of Pharmacy, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States.
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Baracz SJ, Cornish JL. The neurocircuitry involved in oxytocin modulation of methamphetamine addiction. Front Neuroendocrinol 2016; 43:1-18. [PMID: 27546878 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The role of oxytocin in attenuating the abuse of licit and illicit drugs, including the psychostimulant methamphetamine, has been examined with increased ferocity in recent years. This is largely driven by the potential application of oxytocin as a pharmacotherapy. However, the neural mechanisms by which oxytocin modulates methamphetamine abuse are not well understood. Recent research identified an important role for the accumbens core and subthalamic nucleus in this process, which likely involves an interaction with dopamine, glutamate, GABA, and vasopressin. In addition to providing an overview of methamphetamine, the endogenous oxytocin system, and the effects of exogenous oxytocin on drug abuse, we propose a neural circuit through which exogenous oxytocin modulates methamphetamine abuse, focusing on its interaction with neurochemicals within the accumbens core and subthalamic nucleus. A growing understanding of exogenous oxytocin effects at a neurochemical and neurobiological level will assist in its evaluation as a pharmacotherapy for drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Baracz
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Jennifer L Cornish
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
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13
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Association study of GABA system genes polymorphisms with amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder in a Han Chinese population. Neurosci Lett 2016; 622:37-44. [PMID: 27080428 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
GABA system genes have been implicated in neurotrophy and neurogenesis, which play pivotal roles in an individual's variation in vulnerability to amphetamine addiction or amphetamine-induced psychosis (AIP). We hypothesized that common genetic variants in the GABA system genes may be associated with amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. In our study, thirty-six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the GABA system genes were genotyped in 400 amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder patients and 400 amphetamine use disorders patients (AUP) (not including those categorized as psychosis) in the Han Chinese population. In this study, 51.88% of the Han Chinese amphetamine-type substance use disorder patients met the criteria of amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder, and 79.5% amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder patients had auditory hallucinations, while 46.5% had delusions of reference. The allele frequency of rs1129647 showed nominal association with AIP in the Han Chinese population (P=0.03). Compared with AUP group patients, T allele frequency of AIP group patients was significantly increased. The adjustment for age and gender factors in the AIP and AUP patients was executed using unconditional logistic regression under five inheritance models. The genotype frequency of rs1129647 showed nominal association with AIP in the log-additive model (P=0.04). The genotype frequency of rs2290733 showed nominal association with AIP in the recessive model (P=0.04). Compared with female AIP patients, male patients were more likely to have the CC genotype of rs17545383 (P=0.04). Moreover, we determined that more male patients carried the T allele of rs2290733 in the AIP group (P=0.004). Unfortunately, the significant differences did not survive Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate correction (adjusted P>0.05). No association between the SNPs of the GABA system genes and amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder risk was identified. No haplotype of the GABA system genes affected amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder risk. This report describes the first association study between the GABA system genes and amphetamine-induced psychotic disorder in the Han Chinese population. Our data may provide a reference for future research.
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Salum C, Schmidt F, Michel PP, Del-Bel E, Raisman-Vozari R. Signaling Mechanisms in the Nitric Oxide Donor- and Amphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release in Mesencephalic Primary Cultured Neurons. Neurotox Res 2015; 29:92-104. [DOI: 10.1007/s12640-015-9562-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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15
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Rouine J, Kelly ME, Jennings-Murphy C, Duffy P, Gorman I, Gormley S, Kerskens CM, Harkin A. Investigation of the mechanisms mediating MDMA "Ecstasy"-induced increases in cerebro-cortical perfusion determined by btASL MRI. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2015; 232:1501-13. [PMID: 25366875 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3790-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Acute administration of the recreational drug of abuse 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) has previously been shown to increase cerebro-cortical perfusion as determined by bolus-tracking arterial spin labelling (btASL) MRI. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the current study was to assess the mechanisms mediating these changes following systemic administration of MDMA to rats. METHODS Pharmacological manipulation of serotonergic, dopaminergic and nitrergic transmission was carried out to determine the mechanism of action of MDMA-induced increases in cortical perfusion using btASL MRI. RESULTS Fenfluramine (10 mg/kg), like MDMA (20 mg/kg), increased cortical perfusion. Increased cortical perfusion was not obtained with the 5-HT2 receptor agonist 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-aminopropane hydrochloride (DOI) (1 mg/kg). Depletion of central 5-HT following systemic administration of the tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) produced effects similar to those observed with MDMA. Pre-treatment with the 5-HT receptor antagonist metergoline (4 mg/kg) or with the 5-HT reuptake inhibitor citalopram (30 mg/kg), however, failed to produce any effect alone or influence the response to MDMA. Pre-treatment with the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (1 mg/kg) failed to influence the changes in cortical perfusion obtained with MDMA. Treatment with the neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) (25 mg/kg) provoked no change in cerebral perfusion alone yet attenuated the MDMA-related increase in cortical perfusion. CONCLUSIONS Cortical 5-HT depletion is associated with increases in perfusion although this mechanism alone does not account for MDMA-related changes. A role for NO, a key regulator of cerebrovascular perfusion, is implicated in MDMA-induced increases in cortical perfusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Rouine
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin, 2, Ireland
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Baumeister D, Tojo LM, Tracy DK. Legal highs: staying on top of the flood of novel psychoactive substances. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol 2015; 5:97-132. [PMID: 26240749 PMCID: PMC4521440 DOI: 10.1177/2045125314559539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been growing clinical, public, and media awareness and concern about the availability and potential harmfulness of so-called 'legal highs', which are more appropriately called new or novel psychoactive substances (NPS). A cat-and-mouse process has emerged wherein unknown chemists and laboratories are producing new, and as yet nonproscribed, compounds for human consumption; and as soon as they are banned, which they inevitably are, slightly modified analogues are produced to circumvent new laws. This rapidly changing environment, 81 new substances were identified in 2013 alone, has led to confusion for clinicians, psychopharmacologists, and the public at large. Our difficulties in keeping up with the process has had a two-fold negative effect: the danger of ignoring what is confusing; and the problem that some of the newer synthesized compounds appear ever more potent. This review aims to circumscribe a quick moving and growing field, and to categorize NPS into five major groups based upon their 'parent' compounds: stimulants similar to cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy; cannabinoids; benzodiazepine based drugs; dissociatives similar to ketamine and phencyclidine (PCP); and those modelled after classic hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin. Pharmacodynamic actions, subjective and physical effects, harmfulness, risk of dependency and, where appropriate, putative clinical potentials are described for each class. Clinicians might encounter NPS in various ways: anecdotal reportage; acute intoxication; as part of a substance misuse profile; and as a precipitant or perpetuating factor for longer-term physical and psychological ill health. Current data are overall limited, and much of our knowledge and treatment strategies are based upon those of the 'parent' compound. There is a critical need for more research in this field, and for professionals to make themselves more aware of this growing issue and how it might affect those we see clinically and try to help: a brave new world of so-called 'psychonauts' consuming NPS will also need informed 'psychotherapeutonauts'. The paper should serve as a primer for clinicians and interested readers, as well as provide a framework into which to place the new substances that will inevitably be synthesized in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Baumeister
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Luis M Tojo
- Stress, Psychiatry and Immunology Lab, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, UK
| | - Derek K Tracy
- Consultant Psychiatrist and Associate Clinical Director, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Princess Royal University Hospital, and Cognition, Schizophrenia and Imaging Laboratory, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London BR6 8NY, UK
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Dopaminergic system dysfunction in recreational dexamphetamine users. Neuropsychopharmacology 2015; 40:1172-80. [PMID: 25394786 PMCID: PMC4367461 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2014.301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Dexamphetamine (dAMPH) is a stimulant drug that is widely used recreationally as well as for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although animal studies have shown neurotoxic effects of dAMPH on the dopaminergic system, little is known about such effects on the human brain. Here, we studied the dopaminergic system at multiple physiological levels in recreational dAMPH users and age, gender, and IQ-matched dAMPH-naïve healthy controls. We assessed baseline D2/3 receptor availability, in addition to changes in dopamine (DA) release using single-photon emission computed tomography and DA functionality using pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging, following a dAMPH challenge. Also, the subjective responses to the challenge were determined. dAMPH users displayed significantly lower striatal DA D2/3 receptor binding compared with healthy controls. In dAMPH users, we further observed a blunted DA release and DA functionality to an acute dAMPH challenge, as well as a blunted subjective response. Finally, the lower D2/3 availability, the more pleasant the dAMPH administration was experienced by control subjects, but not by dAMPH users. Thus, in agreement with preclinical studies, we show that the recreational use of dAMPH in human subjects is associated with dopaminergic system dysfunction. These findings warrant further (longitudinal) investigations and call for caution when using this drug recreationally and for ADHD.
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White C, Edwards M, Brown J, Bell J. The impact of recreational MDMA 'ecstasy' use on global form processing. J Psychopharmacol 2014; 28:1018-29. [PMID: 25142406 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114546709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The ability to integrate local orientation information into a global form percept was investigated in long-term ecstasy users. Evidence suggests that ecstasy disrupts the serotonin system, with the visual areas of the brain being particularly susceptible. Previous research has found altered orientation processing in the primary visual area (V1) of users, thought to be due to disrupted serotonin-mediated lateral inhibition. The current study aimed to investigate whether orientation deficits extend to higher visual areas involved in global form processing. Forty-five participants completed a psychophysical (Glass pattern) study allowing an investigation into the mechanisms underlying global form processing and sensitivity to changes in the offset of the stimuli (jitter). A subgroup of polydrug-ecstasy users (n=6) with high ecstasy use had significantly higher thresholds for the detection of Glass patterns than controls (n=21, p=0.039) after Bonferroni correction. There was also a significant interaction between jitter level and drug-group, with polydrug-ecstasy users showing reduced sensitivity to alterations in jitter level (p=0.003). These results extend previous research, suggesting disrupted global form processing and reduced sensitivity to orientation jitter with ecstasy use. Further research is needed to investigate this finding in a larger sample of heavy ecstasy users and to differentiate the effects of other drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire White
- The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Mark Edwards
- The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - John Brown
- The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Jason Bell
- The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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Alterations to global but not local motion processing in long-term ecstasy (MDMA) users. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2014; 231:2611-22. [PMID: 24441968 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-014-3431-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 12/24/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Growing evidence indicates that the main psychoactive ingredient in the illegal drug "ecstasy" (methylendioxymethamphetamine) causes reduced activity in the serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems in humans. On the basis of substantial serotonin input to the occipital lobe, recent research investigated visual processing in long-term users and found a larger magnitude of the tilt aftereffect, interpreted to reflect broadened orientation tuning bandwidths. Further research found higher orientation discrimination thresholds and reduced long-range interactions in the primary visual area of ecstasy users. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present research was to investigate whether serotonin-mediated V1 visual processing deficits in ecstasy users extend to motion processing mechanisms. METHOD Forty-five participants (21 controls, 24 drug users) completed two psychophysical studies: A direction discrimination study directly measured local motion processing in V1, while a motion coherence task tested global motion processing in area V5/MT. RESULTS "Primary" ecstasy users (n = 18), those without substantial polydrug use, had significantly lower global motion thresholds than controls [p = 0.027, Cohen's d = 0.78 (large)], indicating increased sensitivity to global motion stimuli, but no difference in local motion processing (p = 0.365). CONCLUSION These results extend on previous research investigating the long-term effects of illicit drugs on visual processing. Two possible explanations are explored: defuse attentional processes may be facilitating spatial pooling of motion signals in users. Alternatively, it may be that a GABA-mediated disruption to V5/MT processing is reducing spatial suppression and therefore improving global motion perception in ecstasy users.
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Lominac KD, McKenna CL, Schwartz LM, Ruiz PN, Wroten MG, Miller BW, Holloway JJ, Travis KO, Rajasekar G, Maliniak D, Thompson AB, Urman LE, Phillips TJ, Szumlinski KK. Mesocorticolimbic monoamine correlates of methamphetamine sensitization and motivation. Front Syst Neurosci 2014; 8:70. [PMID: 24847220 PMCID: PMC4019853 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is a highly addictive psychomotor stimulant, with life-time prevalence rates of abuse ranging from 5–10% world-wide. Yet, a paucity of research exists regarding MA addiction vulnerability/resiliency and neurobiological mediators of the transition to addiction that might occur upon repeated low-dose MA exposure, more characteristic of early drug use. As stimulant-elicited neuroplasticity within dopamine neurons innervating the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) is theorized as central for addiction-related behavioral anomalies, we used a multi-disciplinary research approach in mice to examine the interactions between sub-toxic MA dosing, motivation for MA and mesocorticolimbic monoamines. Biochemical studies of C57BL/6J (B6) mice revealed short- (1 day), as well as longer-term (21 days), changes in extracellular dopamine, DAT and/or D2 receptors during withdrawal from 10, once daily, 2 mg/kg MA injections. Follow-up biochemical studies conducted in mice selectively bred for high vs. low MA drinking (respectively, MAHDR vs. MALDR mice), provided novel support for anomalies in mesocorticolimbic dopamine as a correlate of genetic vulnerability to high MA intake. Finally, neuropharmacological targeting of NAC dopamine in MA-treated B6 mice demonstrated a bi-directional regulation of MA-induced place-conditioning. These results extend extant literature for MA neurotoxicity by demonstrating that even subchronic exposure to relatively low MA doses are sufficient to elicit relatively long-lasting changes in mesocorticolimbic dopamine and that drug-induced or idiopathic anomalies in mesocorticolimbic dopamine may underpin vulnerability/resiliency to MA addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Lominac
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Courtney L McKenna
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M Schwartz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Paige N Ruiz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Melissa G Wroten
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Bailey W Miller
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - John J Holloway
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Katherine O Travis
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Ganesh Rajasekar
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Dan Maliniak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Andrew B Thompson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Lawrence E Urman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Tamara J Phillips
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR, USA
| | - Karen K Szumlinski
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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Farnia V, Shakeri J, Tatari F, Juibari TA, Yazdchi K, Bajoghli H, Brand S, Abdoli N, Aghaei A. Randomized controlled trial of aripiprazole versus risperidone for the treatment of amphetamine-induced psychosis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2013; 40:10-5. [DOI: 10.3109/00952990.2013.861843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Farnia
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshah, Iran
| | - Jalal Shakeri
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshah, Iran
| | - Faezeh Tatari
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshah, Iran
| | - Toraj Ahmadi Juibari
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshah, Iran
| | | | | | - Serge Brand
- Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders
BaselSwitzerland
| | - Nasrin Abdoli
- Department of Psychometrics, Emam Reza International University of Mashhad
MashhadIran
| | - Abbas Aghaei
- Psychiatry Department, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical SciencesKermanshah, Iran
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22
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Pharmacological imaging as a tool to visualise dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Neuropharmacology 2013; 84:159-69. [PMID: 23851258 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine abnormalities underlie a wide variety of psychopathologies, including ADHD and schizophrenia. A new imaging technique, pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI), is a promising non-invasive technique to visualize the dopaminergic system in the brain. In this review we explore the clinical potential of phMRI in detecting dopamine dysfunction or neurotoxicity, assess its strengths and weaknesses and identify directions for future research. Preclinically, phMRI is able to detect severe dopaminergic abnormalities quite similar to conventional techniques such as PET and SPECT. phMRI benefits from its high spatial resolution and the possibility to visualize both local and downstream effects of dopaminergic neurotransmission. In addition, it allows for repeated measurements and assessments in vulnerable populations. The major challenge is the complex interpretation of phMRI results. Future studies in patients with dopaminergic abnormalities need to confirm the currently reviewed preclinical findings to validate the technique in a clinical setting. Eventually, based on the current review we expect that phMRI can be of use in a clinical setting involving vulnerable populations (such as children and adolescents) for diagnosis and monitoring treatment efficacy. This article is part of the Special Issue Section entitled 'Neuroimaging in Neuropharmacology'.
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Mohd Fauzi F, Koutsoukas A, Cunningham A, Gallegos A, Sedefov R, Bender A. Computer-aided (in silico) approaches in the mode-of-action analysis and safety assessment of ostarine and 4-methylamphetamine. Hum Psychopharmacol 2013; 28:365-78. [PMID: 23881885 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study exemplifies computer-aided (in silico) approaches in assessing the risks of new psychoactive substances emerging in the European Union. In this work, we (i) consider the potential of Ostarine exhibiting psychoactivity and (ii) anticipate potential activities and toxicities of 4-methylamphetamine. METHOD The approach, termed in silico target prediction, suggests potential protein targets modulated by compounds given their chemical structure. This is achieved by first establishing the associations between chemical structure and protein targets using data from the bioactivity database, ChEMBL, via the use of two different computational algorithms. On the basis of the associations, protein targets and consequently the mode of action of novel compounds were predicted. RESULTS For Ostarine, none of the targets anticipated are currently known to elicit psychoactivity. Furthermore, Ostarine is unlikely to cross the blood-brain barrier to reach relevant target sites on the basis of its physicochemical properties. For 4-methylamphetamine, toxicities were anticipated, that is, serotonin syndrome (based on the prediction of SERT) and other effects similar to related substances, that is, methamphetamine. CONCLUSION From the two case studies, we showed that in silico target prediction appears to have potential in assessing new psychoactive compounds where experimental data are scarce. The applicability domain of target predictions when applied to psychoactive compounds needs to be established in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazlin Mohd Fauzi
- Unilever Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
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Mueller M, Maldonado-Adrian C, Yuan J, McCann UD, Ricaurte GA. Studies of (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) metabolism and disposition in rats and mice: relationship to neuroprotection and neurotoxicity profile. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2012; 344:479-88. [PMID: 23209329 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.112.201699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurotoxicity of (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "Ecstasy") is influenced by temperature and varies according to species. The mechanisms underlying these two features of MDMA neurotoxicity are unknown, but differences in MDMA metabolism have recently been implicated in both. The present study was designed to 1) assess the effect of hypothermia on MDMA metabolism, 2) determine whether the neuroprotective effect of hypothermia is related to inhibition of MDMA metabolism, and 3) determine if different neurotoxicity profiles in mice and rats are related to differences in MDMA metabolism and/or disposition in the two species. Rats and mice received single neurotoxic oral doses of MDMA at 25°C and 4°C, and body temperature, pharmacokinetic parameters, and serotonergic and dopaminergic neuronal markers were measured. Hypothermia did not alter MDMA metabolism in rats and only modestly inhibited MDMA metabolism in mice; however, it afforded complete neuroprotection in both species. Rats and mice metabolized MDMA in a similar pattern, with 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine being the major metabolite, followed by 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine and 3,4-dihydroxymethamphetamine, respectively. Differences between MDMA pharmacokinetics in rats and mice, including faster elimination in mice, did not account for the different profile of MDMA neurotoxicity in the two species. Taken together, the results of these studies indicate that inhibition of MDMA metabolism is not responsible for the neuroprotective effect of hypothermia in rodents, and that different neurotoxicity profiles in rats and mice are not readily explained by differences in MDMA metabolism or disposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Mueller
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Hadamitzky M, McCunney S, Markou A, Kuczenski R. Development of stereotyped behaviors during prolonged escalation of methamphetamine self-administration in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012; 223:259-69. [PMID: 22526541 PMCID: PMC3586274 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-012-2713-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Experimental animal studies have shown that repeated administration of psychostimulants, such as methamphetamine (METH), results in an altered behavioral response profile, which includes the sensitization of both locomotor and stereotyped behaviors. Although sensitization of these behaviors has been characterized in detail during bolus, investigator-administered drug administration, little is known about the development or expression of stereotypies during psychostimulant self-administration. OBJECTIVE/METHODS The present study investigated in rats the expression of focused stereotyped behaviors during an extended access, escalation procedure of METH self-administration. Over several weeks during stepwise-extended daily access to METH (3, 6, and 12 h) followed by exposure to 24-h "binges," rats gradually increased daily drug intake. RESULTS During the escalation procedure, the rats' behavioral response evolved from locomotor activation to progressively more focused stereotypies, culminating in continuous oral behaviors (licking, gnawing, and chewing), interrupted only by episodic lever presses. Sensitization of stereotyped behaviors was evident, particularly with regard to oral behaviors that exhibited a more rapid onset and intensification in the apparent absence of greater drug intake. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that stepwise-extended daily access to METH (3, 6, 12, and 24 h) self-administration in rats closely approximates motivational, pharmacokinetic, as well as behavioral patterns of human METH abuse. The accompanied appearance of sensitization of intense focused stereotyped behaviors, which is probably a consequence of escalation of drug intake, resembles stereotypies associated with investigator-initiated METH administration and may parallel the development of stimulant-induced psychosis seen in human abusers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hadamitzky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Jan RK, Kydd RR, Russell BR. Functional and structural brain changes associated with methamphetamine abuse. Brain Sci 2012; 2:434-82. [PMID: 24961256 PMCID: PMC4061807 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci2040434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Revised: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is a potent psychostimulant drug whose abuse has become a global epidemic in recent years. Firstly, this review article briefly discusses the epidemiology and clinical pharmacology of methamphetamine dependence. Secondly, the article reviews relevant animal literature modeling methamphetamine dependence and discusses possible mechanisms of methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. Thirdly, it provides a critical review of functional and structural neuroimaging studies in human MA abusers; including positron emission tomography (PET) and functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The effect of abstinence from methamphetamine, both short- and long-term within the context of these studies is also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem K Jan
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Rob R Kydd
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Bruce R Russell
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
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Dimatelis JJ, Russell VA, Stein DJ, Daniels WM. Effects of maternal separation and methamphetamine exposure on protein expression in the nucleus accumbens shell and core. Metab Brain Dis 2012; 27:363-75. [PMID: 22451087 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-012-9295-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2011] [Accepted: 03/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Early life adversity has been suggested to predispose an individual to later drug abuse. The core and shell sub-regions of the nucleus accumbens are differentially affected by both stressors and methamphetamine. This study aimed to characterize and quantify methamphetamine-induced protein expression in the shell and core of the nucleus accumbens in animals exposed to maternal separation during early development. Isobaric tagging (iTRAQ) which enables simultaneous identification and quantification of peptides with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used. We found that maternal separation altered more proteins involved in structure and redox regulation in the shell than in the core of the nucleus accumbens, and that maternal separation and methamphetamine had differential effects on signaling proteins in the shell and core. Compared to maternal separation or methamphetamine alone, the maternal separation/methamphetamine combination altered more proteins involved in energy metabolism, redox regulatory processes and neurotrophic proteins. Methamphetamine treatment of rats subjected to maternal separation caused a reduction of cytoskeletal proteins in the shell and altered cytoskeletal, signaling, energy metabolism and redox proteins in the core. Comparison of maternal separation/methamphetamine to methamphetamine alone resulted in decreased cytoskeletal proteins in both the shell and core and increased neurotrophic proteins in the core. This study confirms that both early life stress and methamphetamine differentially affect the shell and core of the nucleus accumbens and demonstrates that the combination of early life adversity and later methamphetamine use results in more proteins being affected in the nucleus accumbens than either treatment alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Dimatelis
- Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925 Cape Town, South Africa.
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Roussotte FF, Rudie JD, Smith L, O'Connor MJ, Bookheimer SY, Narr KL, Sowell ER. Frontostriatal connectivity in children during working memory and the effects of prenatal methamphetamine, alcohol, and polydrug exposure. Dev Neurosci 2012; 34:43-57. [PMID: 22472800 DOI: 10.1159/000336242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2011] [Accepted: 12/30/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Various abnormalities in frontal and striatal regions have been reported in children with prenatal alcohol and/or methamphetamine exposure. In a recent fMRI study, we observed a correlation between accuracy on a working-memory task and functional activation in the putamen in children with prenatal methamphetamine and polydrug exposure. Because the putamen is part of the corticostriatal motor loop whereas the caudate is involved in the executive loop, we hypothesized that a loss of segregation between distinct corticostriatal networks may occur in these participants. The current study was designed to test this hypothesis using functional connectivity MRI. We examined 50 children ranging in age from 7 to 15, including 19 with prenatal methamphetamine exposure (15 of whom had concomitant prenatal alcohol exposure), 13 with prenatal exposure to alcohol but not methamphetamine, and 18 unexposed controls. We measured the coupling between blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fluctuations during a working-memory task in four striatal seed regions and those in the rest of the brain. We found that the putamen seeds showed increased connectivity with frontal brain regions involved in executive functions while the caudate seeds showed decreased connectivity with some of these regions in both groups of exposed subjects compared to controls. These findings suggest that localized brain abnormalities resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol and/or methamphetamine lead to a partial rewiring of corticostriatal networks. These results represent important progress in the field, and could have substantial clinical significance in helping devise more targeted treatments and remediation strategies designed to better serve the needs of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence F Roussotte
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, CA 90027, USA
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29
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Reid AG, Lingford-Hughes AR, Cancela LM, Kalivas PW. Substance abuse disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2012; 106:419-31. [PMID: 22608635 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-52002-9.00024-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Colfax GN, Santos GM, Das M, Santos DM, Matheson T, Gasper J, Shoptaw S, Vittinghoff E. Mirtazapine to reduce methamphetamine use: a randomized controlled trial. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 68:1168-75. [PMID: 22065532 DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT No approved pharmacologic treatments for methamphetamine dependence exist. Methamphetamine use is associated with high morbidity and is a major cofactor in the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM). OBJECTIVE To determine whether mirtazapine would reduce methamphetamine use among MSM who are actively using methamphetamine. DESIGN Double-blind, randomized, controlled, 12-week trial of mirtazapine vs placebo conducted from September 5, 2007, to March 4, 2010. SETTING San Francisco Department of Public Health. PARTICIPANTS Participants were actively using, methamphetamine-dependent, sexually active MSM seen weekly for urine sample collection and substance use counseling. INTERVENTIONS Random assignment to daily oral mirtazapine (30 mg) or placebo; both arms included 30-minute weekly substance use counseling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary study outcome was reduction in methamphetamine-positive urine test results. Secondary outcomes were study medication adherence (by self-report and medication event monitoring systems) and sexual risk behavior. RESULTS Sixty MSM were randomized, 85% of follow-up visits were completed, and 56 participants (93%) completed the final visit. In the primary intent-to-treat analysis, participants assigned to the mirtazapine group had fewer methamphetamine-positive urine test results compared with participants assigned to the placebo group (relative risk, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.35-0.93, P = .02). Urine positivity decreased from 67% (20 of 30 participants) to 63% (17 of 27) in the placebo arm and from 73% (22 of 30) to 44% (12 of 27) in the mirtazapine arm. The number needed to treat to achieve a negative weekly urine test result was 3.1. Adherence was 48.5% by medication event monitoring systems and 74.7% by self-report; adherence measures were not significantly different between arms (medication event monitoring systems, P = .82; self-report, P = .92). Most sexual risk behaviors decreased significantly more among participants taking mirtazapine compared with those taking placebo (number of male partners with whom methamphetamine was used, P = .009; number of male partners, P = .04; episodes of anal sex with serodiscordant partners, P = .003; episodes of unprotected anal sex with serodiscordant partners, P = .003; episodes of insertive anal sex with serodiscordant partners, P = .001). There were no serious adverse events related to study drug or significant differences in adverse events by arm (P ≥ .99). CONCLUSION The addition of mirtazapine to substance use counseling decreased methamphetamine use among active users and was associated with decreases in sexual risk despite low to moderate medication adherence. Trial Registration clinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00497081.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant N Colfax
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA.
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31
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Impact of methamphetamine on dopamine neurons in primates is dependent on age: implications for development of Parkinson's disease. Neuroscience 2011; 189:277-85. [PMID: 21640165 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2011] [Revised: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 05/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine is a CNS stimulant with limited therapeutic indications, but is widely abused. Short-term exposure to higher doses, or long-term exposure to lower doses, of methamphetamine induces lasting damage to nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in man and animals. Strong evidence indicates that the mechanism for this detrimental effect on dopamine neurons involves oxidative stress exerted by reactive oxygen species. This study investigates the relative susceptibility of dopamine neurons in mid-gestation, young, and adult (not aged) monkeys to four treatments with methamphetamine over 2 days. Primate dopamine neurons undergo natural cell death at mid-gestation, and we hypothesized that during this event they are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress. The results indicated that at mid-gestation and in adults, dopamine neurons were susceptible to methamphetamine-induced damage, as indicated by loss of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity and dopamine concentration. However, dopamine neurons in young animals appeared totally resistant to the treatment, despite this group having higher brain levels of methamphetamine 3 h after administration than the adults. As a possible explanation for the protection, striatal glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels were elevated in young animals 1 week after treatment, but not in adults following methamphetamine treatment. Implications of these primate studies are: (1) the susceptibility of dopamine neurons at mid-gestation to methamphetamine warns against the risk of exposing pregnant women to the drug or oxidative stressors, and supports the hypothesis of Parkinson's disease being associated with oxidative stress during development, (2) elucidation of the mechanism of resistance of dopamine neurons in the young animals to methamphetamine-induced oxidative stress may provide targets for slowing or preventing age- or disease-related loss of adult nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons, and (3) the increased striatal production of GDNF in young animals, but not in adults, in response to methamphetamine, suggests the possibility of an age-related change in the neurotrophic capacity of the striatal dopamine system.
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32
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Saniotis A. Evolutionary and anthropological approaches towards understanding human need for psychotropic and mood altering substances. J Psychoactive Drugs 2011; 42:477-84. [PMID: 21305912 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2010.10400710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Human addiction to psychotropic and mood altering substances is an ongoing international problem. While the phenomenon of psychoactive drug use has received considerable theoretical attention there need to be more comparative approaches into this area. Evolutionary and anthropological approaches for understanding human need for psychotropic and mood altering substances offer the reader various insightful angles for analyzing this phenomenon. While evolutionary approaches investigate the evolutionary behaviors and mechanisms of human ancestral psychotropic use, anthropological approaches emphasize the social and religious meanings of individual drug use. While each approach proffers different ideas, a comparative approach, which is utilized in this study, may provide a novel and invaluable insight for understanding human need for psychotropic and mood-altering substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Saniotis
- School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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Sigma (σ) receptor ligand, AC927 (N-phenethylpiperidine oxalate), attenuates methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia and serotonin damage in mice. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2010; 98:12-20. [PMID: 21130800 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2010.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2010] [Revised: 10/30/2010] [Accepted: 11/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine interacts with sigma (σ) receptors and AC927, a selective σ receptor ligand, protects against methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity. In the present study, the effects of AC927 on methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia and striatal serotonergic neurotoxicity were evaluated. Male, Swiss Webster mice were injected (i.p.) every 2 h, for a total of four times, with one of the following treatments: Saline+Saline; Saline+Methamphetamine (5 mg/kg); AC927 (5, 10, 20 mg/kg)+Methamphetamine (5 mg/kg); or AC927 (5, 10, 20 mg/kg)+Saline. Pretreatment with AC927 (10 mg/kg) significantly attenuated methamphetamine-induced striatal serotonin depletions, striatal serotonin transporter reductions, and hyperthermia. At the doses tested, AC927 itself had no significant effects on serotonin levels, serotonin transporter expression, or body temperature. To evaluate the effects of higher ambient temperature on methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity, groups of mice were treated at 37 °C. Overall, there was an inverse correlation between the body temperature of the animals and striatal serotonin levels. Together, the data suggest that AC927 (10 mg/kg) protects against methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. The reduction of methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia by AC927 may contribute to the observed neuroprotection in vivo.
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34
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Callaghan RC, Cunningham JK, Sajeev G, Kish SJ. Incidence of Parkinson's disease among hospital patients with methamphetamine-use disorders. Mov Disord 2010; 25:2333-9. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.23263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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35
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Yuan J, Darvas M, Sotak B, Hatzidimitriou G, McCann UD, Palmiter RD, Ricaurte GA. Dopamine is not essential for the development of methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. J Neurochem 2010; 114:1135-42. [PMID: 20533999 PMCID: PMC3124237 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06839.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is widely believed that dopamine (DA) mediates methamphetamine (METH)-induced toxicity to brain dopaminergic neurons, because drugs that interfere with DA neurotransmission decrease toxicity, whereas drugs that increase DA neurotransmission enhance toxicity. However, temperature effects of drugs that have been used to manipulate brain DA neurotransmission confound interpretation of the data. Here we show that the recently reported ability of l-dihydroxyphenylalanine to reverse the protective effect of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine on METH-induced DA neurotoxicity is also confounded by drug effects on body temperature. Further, we show that mice genetically engineered to be deficient in brain DA develop METH neurotoxicity, as long as the thermic effects of METH are preserved. In addition, we demonstrate that mice genetically engineered to have unilateral brain DA deficits develop METH-induced dopaminergic deficits that are of comparable magnitude on both sides of the brain. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that DA is not essential for the development of METH-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity and suggest that mechanisms independent of DA warrant more intense investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
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36
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Differentiating prenatal exposure to methamphetamine and alcohol versus alcohol and not methamphetamine using tensor-based brain morphometry and discriminant analysis. J Neurosci 2010; 30:3876-85. [PMID: 20237258 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4967-09.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to methamphetamine (MA) on local brain volume using magnetic resonance imaging. Because many who use MA during pregnancy also use alcohol, a known teratogen, we examined whether local brain volumes differed among 61 children (ages 5-15 years), 21 with prenatal MA exposure, 18 with concomitant prenatal alcohol exposure (the MAA group), 13 with heavy prenatal alcohol but not MA exposure (ALC group), and 27 unexposed controls. Volume reductions were observed in both exposure groups relative to controls in striatal and thalamic regions bilaterally and in right prefrontal and left occipitoparietal cortices. Striatal volume reductions were more severe in the MAA group than in the ALC group, and, within the MAA group, a negative correlation between full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) scores and caudate volume was observed. Limbic structures, including the anterior and posterior cingulate, the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and ventral and lateral temporal lobes bilaterally, were increased in volume in both exposure groups. Furthermore, cingulate and right IFG volume increases were more pronounced in the MAA than ALC group. Discriminant function analyses using local volume measurements and FSIQ were used to predict group membership, yielding factor scores that correctly classified 72% of participants in jackknife analyses. These findings suggest that striatal and limbic structures, known to be sites of neurotoxicity in adult MA abusers, may be more vulnerable to prenatal MA exposure than alcohol exposure and that more severe striatal damage is associated with more severe cognitive deficit.
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Kish SJ, Lerch J, Furukawa Y, Tong J, McCluskey T, Wilkins D, Houle S, Meyer J, Mundo E, Wilson AA, Rusjan PM, Saint-Cyr JA, Guttman M, Collins DL, Shapiro C, Warsh JJ, Boileau I. Decreased cerebral cortical serotonin transporter binding in ecstasy users: a positron emission tomography/[(11)C]DASB and structural brain imaging study. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 133:1779-97. [PMID: 20483717 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awq103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Animal data indicate that the recreational drug ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) can damage brain serotonin neurons. However, human neuroimaging measurements of serotonin transporter binding, a serotonin neuron marker, remain contradictory, especially regarding brain areas affected; and the possibility that structural brain differences might account for serotonin transporter binding changes has not been explored. We measured brain serotonin transporter binding using [(11)C] N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-amino-4-cyanophenylthio) benzylamine in 50 control subjects and in 49 chronic (mean 4 years) ecstasy users (typically one to two tablets bi-monthly) withdrawn from the drug (mean 45 days). A magnetic resonance image for positron emission tomography image co-registration and structural analyses was acquired. Hair toxicology confirmed group allocation but also indicated use of other psychoactive drugs in most users. Serotonin transporter binding in ecstasy users was significantly decreased throughout all cerebral cortices (range -19 to -46%) and hippocampus (-21%) and related to the extent of drug use (years, maximum dose), but was normal in basal ganglia and midbrain. Substantial overlap was observed between control and user values except for insular cortex, in which 51% of ecstasy user values fell below the lower limit of the control range. Voxel-based analyses confirmed a caudorostral gradient of cortical serotonin transporter binding loss with occipital cortex most severely affected. Magnetic resonance image measurement revealed no overall regional volume differences between groups; however, a slight left-hemispheric biased cortical thinning was detected in methamphetamine-using ecstasy users. The serotonin transporter binding loss was not related to structural changes or partial volume effect, use of other stimulant drugs, blood testosterone or oestradiol levels, major serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphisms, gender, psychiatric status, or self-reported hyperthermia or tolerance. The ecstasy group, although 'grossly behaviourally normal', reported subnormal mood and demonstrated generally modest deficits on some tests of attention, executive function and memory, with the latter associated with serotonin transporter decrease. Our findings suggest that the 'typical'/low dose (one to two tablets/session) chronic ecstasy-polydrug user might display a highly selective mild to marked loss of serotonin transporter in cerebral cortex/hippocampus in the range of that observed in Parkinson's disease, which is not gender-specific or completely accounted for by structural brain changes, recent use of other drugs (as assessed by hair analyses) or other potential confounds that we could address. The striking sparing of serotonin transporter-rich striatum (although possibly affected in 'heavier' users) suggests that serotonergic neurons innervating cerebral cortex are more susceptible, for unknown reasons, to ecstasy than those innervating subcortical regions and that behavioural problems in some ecstasy users during abstinence might be related to serotonin transporter changes limited to cortical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Kish
- Human Neurochemical Pathology Laboratory, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8, Canada.
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38
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Rocha A, Kalivas PW. Role of the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens in reinstating methamphetamine seeking. Eur J Neurosci 2010; 31:903-9. [PMID: 20180839 PMCID: PMC4346145 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07134.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Although the involvement of the medial prefrontal cortex projection to the nucleus accumbens in the reinstatement of cocaine seeking has been well studied, it is not known if this projection plays a similar role in the reinstatement of cue- and methamphetamine-induced drug seeking in animals extinguished from methamphetamine self-administration. Accordingly, following extinction from long-access methamphetamine self-administration, rats were bilaterally microinjected with either a combination of the GABA agonists baclofen/muscimol or vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid) into the infralimbic or prelimbic subcompartments of the medial prefrontal cortex or into the shell or core subcompartments of the nucleus accumbens. Similar to cocaine seeking, inactivation of either the prelimbic cortex or accumbens core eliminated cue- and methamphetamine-induced reinstatement, and inactivation of neither the infralimbic cortex nor shell subcompartments inhibited methamphetamine-induced drug seeking. However, in contrast to previous reports with cocaine, cue-induced reinstatement of methamphetamine seeking was inhibited by inactivation of the infralimbic cortex. In conclusion, although a primary role in reinstated drug seeking by the prelimbic and the accumbens core is similar between cocaine and methamphetamine, the recruitment of the infralimbic cortex by conditioned cues differs between these two psychostimulant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Rocha
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, BSB410SC, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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39
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Lin SK, Huang MC, Lin HC, Pan CH. Deterioration of intelligence in methamphetamine-induced psychosis: comparison with alcohol dependence on WAIS-III. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2010; 64:4-9. [PMID: 19968830 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2009.02035.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Long-term use of methamphetamine could induce psychosis, but consequences with regards to intelligence have seldom been investigated. Long-term use of alcohol could also result in intellectual deterioration. METHODS The IQ of 34 methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MIP) patients (age, 28.7 +/- 6.1 years) and 34 alcohol-dependent (AD) patients (age, 40.7 +/- 7.3 years) was compared using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-III). RESULTS The average full-scale IQ, verbal IQ, performance IQ, verbal comprehension index, working memory index, perceptual organization index, and processing speed index was 82.3 +/- 10.8, 84.3 +/- 11.9, 81.9 +/- 12.1, 85.5 +/- 11.9, 84.7 +/- 12.5, 85.4 +/- 13.6, and 78.5 +/- 12.7 in MIP patients and 90.5 +/- 12.0, 95.2 +/- 11.3, 86.0 +/- 13.7, 95.5 +/- 11.0, 87.1 +/- 14.5, 96.2 +/- 13.1, and 84.5 +/- 15.0 in AD patients, respectively. There were six MIP patients (17.6%) whose full-scale IQ was <70 and 13 (38.2%) whose full-scale IQ was <85 and >70, while one AD patient had a full-scale IQ <70 (2.9%) and 10 (22%) had full-scale IQ <85 and >70. CONCLUSIONS Long-term use of methamphetamine can result not only in psychosis, but also in mentality deterioration. Intelligence deterioration is more severe in clinical MIP patients than AD patients. Assessment of the mentality of MIP patients is suggested to help with the implementation of rehabilitative programs for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Ku Lin
- Taipei City Hospital and Taipei City Psychiatric Center, Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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40
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Kuroda KO, Ornthanalai VG, Kato T, Murphy NP. FosB null mutant mice show enhanced methamphetamine neurotoxicity: potential involvement of FosB in intracellular feedback signaling and astroglial function. Neuropsychopharmacology 2010; 35:641-55. [PMID: 19890265 PMCID: PMC3055620 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2009.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies show that (1) two members of fos family transcription factors, c-Fos and FosB, are induced in frontal brain regions by methamphetamine; (2) null mutation of c-Fos exacerbates methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity; and (3) null mutation of FosB enhances behavioral responses to cocaine. Here we sought a role of FosB in responses to methamphetamine by studying FosB null mutant (-/-) mice. After a 10 mg/kg methamphetamine injection, FosB(-/-) mice were more prone to self-injury. Concomitantly, the intracellular feedback regulators of Sprouty and Rad-Gem-Kir (RGK) family transcripts had lower expression profiles in the frontoparietal cortex and striatum of the FosB(-/-) mice. Three days after administration of four 10 mg/kg methamphetamine injections, the frontoparietal cortex and striatum of FosB(-/-) mice contained more degenerated neurons as determined by Fluoro-Jade B staining. The abundance of the small neutral amino acids, serine, alanine, and glycine, was lower and/or was poorly induced after methamphetamine administration in the frontoparietal cortex and striatum of FosB(-/-) mice. In addition, methamphetamine-treated FosB(-/-) frontoparietal and piriform cortices showed more extravasation of immunoglobulin, which is indicative of blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia, brain dopamine content, and loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the striatum, however, were not different between genotypes. These data indicate that FosB is involved in thermoregulation-independent protective functions against methamphetamine neurotoxicity in postsynaptic neurons. Our findings suggest two possible mechanisms of FosB-mediated neuroprotection: one is induction of negative feedback regulation within postsynaptic neurons through Sprouty and RGK. Another is supporting astroglial function such as maintenance of the blood-brain barrier, and metabolism of serine and glycine, which are important glial modulators of nerve cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumi O Kuroda
- Unit for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan.
| | | | - Tadafumi Kato
- Laboratory for Molecular Dynamics of Mental Disorder, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan
| | - Niall P Murphy
- Neuropathology Research Group, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan
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41
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Cheng WS, Garfein RS, Semple SJ, Strathdee SA, Zians JK, Patterson TL. Binge use and sex and drug use behaviors among HIV(-), heterosexual methamphetamine users in San Diego. Subst Use Misuse 2010; 45:116-33. [PMID: 20025442 PMCID: PMC2861916 DOI: 10.3109/10826080902869620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED This study identified sociodemographic factors, drug using practices, sexual behaviors, and motivational factors associated with binge (a period of uninterrupted) methamphetamine (MA) use among heterosexual MA users. SAMPLE AND METHOD The FASTLANE study provided cross-sectional data collected by audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) between June 2001 and August 2004 from 451 HIV-negative MA users in San Diego, California, USA who had engaged in unprotected sex and used MA in the previous two months. RESULTS The study sample was 67.8% male, 49.4% Caucasian, 26.8% African-American, and 12.8% Hispanic with a mean age of 36.6 years; 183 (40.5%) reported binge use in the past 2 months. Compared with non-binge users, binge users of MA were more likely to report risky drug use and sex behaviors and differed in motivations to initiate and currently use MA. The final logistic regression model for binge use included more days of MA use in the last month, ever treated for MA use, injection drug use, higher Beck Depression Inventory score, "experimentation" as a motivation for initiating MA use, and engaging in sex marathons while high on MA. HIV prevention efforts should differentiate and address these differences in motivations for MA use and the associated HIV-risk sex and drug use behaviors as key targets for effective intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Susan Cheng
- Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA
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42
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Identification and quantitation of amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine in blood, plasma, and serum using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Methods Mol Biol 2010; 603:37-43. [PMID: 20077057 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-459-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine are measured in blood, serum, and plasma using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Following a simple liquid-liquid extraction, analytes are derivatized with heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) and 1 microL injected onto a HP-5MS 15-meter capillary column. Quantitation of each analyte is accomplished using a multi-point calibration curve and deuterated internal standards. The method provides a simple, robust, and reliable means to identify and measure these analytes.
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43
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Doménech A, Navarro P, Arán VJ, Muro B, Montoya N, García-España E. Selective electrochemical discrimination between dopamine and phenethylamine-derived psychotropic drugs using electrodes modified with an acyclic receptor containing two terminal 3-alkoxy-5-nitroindazole rings. Analyst 2010; 135:1449-55. [DOI: 10.1039/c0an00082e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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44
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Faure JJ, Hattingh SM, Stein DJ, Daniels WM. Proteomic analysis reveals differentially expressed proteins in the rat frontal cortex after methamphetamine treatment. Metab Brain Dis 2009; 24:685-700. [PMID: 19826936 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-009-9167-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2009] [Accepted: 08/29/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is an addictive psycho-stimulant and the illicit use of the drug is escalating. In the present study, we examined protein expression profiles in the rat frontal cortex exposed to a total of eight MA injections (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) using 2-DE based proteomics. We investigated protein changes occurring in both the cytosolic fraction and the membrane fraction. 2-DE analysis resulted in 62 cytosolic and 44 membrane protein spots that were differentially regulated in the frontal cortex of rats exposed to MA when compared to control animals. Of these spots, 47 cytosolic and 42 membrane proteins were identified respectively, using ESI-Quad-TOF, which included ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCH-L1), beta-synuclein, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP 78), gamma-enolase, dihydropyrimidase-related protein 2 (DRP 2), complexin 2 and synapsin II. These proteins are associated with protein degradation, redox regulation, energy metabolism, cellular growth, cytoskeletal modifications and synaptic function. Proteomic research may be useful in exploring the complex underlying molecular mechanisms of MA dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Faure
- Division of Medical Physiology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa.
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45
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Gouzoulis-Mayfrank E, Daumann J. Neurotoxicity of drugs of abuse--the case of methylenedioxyamphetamines (MDMA, ecstasy), and amphetamines. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2009. [PMID: 19877498 PMCID: PMC3181923 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2009.11.3/egmayfrank] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ecstasy (MDMA, 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine) and the stimulants methamphetamine (METH, speed) and amphetamine are popular drugs among young people, particularly in the dance scene. When given in high doses both MDMA and the stimulant amphetamines are clearly neurotoxic in laboratory animals. MDMA causes selective and persistent lesions of central serotonergic nerve terminals, whereas amphetamines damage both the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. In recent years, the question of ecstasy-induced neurotoxicity and possible functional sequelae has been addressed in several studies in drug users. Despite large methodological problems, the bulk of evidence suggests residual alterations of serotonergic transmission in MDMA users, although at least partial recovery may occur after long-term abstinence. However, functional sequelae may persist even after longer periods of abstinence. To date, the most consistent findings associate subtle cognitive impairments with ecstasy use, particularly with memory. In contrast, studies on possible long-term neurotoxic effects of stimulant use have been relatively scarce. Preliminary evidence suggests that alterations of the dopaminergic system may persist even after years of abstinence from METH, and may be associated with deficits in motor and cognitive performance. In this paper, we will review the literature focusing on human studies.
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46
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Kuczenski R, Segal DS, Melega WP, Lacan G, McCunney SJ. Human methamphetamine pharmacokinetics simulated in the rat: behavioral and neurochemical effects of a 72-h binge. Neuropsychopharmacology 2009; 34:2430-41. [PMID: 19571794 PMCID: PMC2778493 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2009.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Bingeing is one pattern of high-dose methamphetamine (METH) abuse, which involves continuous drug taking over several days and can result in psychotic behaviors for which the brain pathology remains poorly defined. A corresponding animal model of this type of METH exposure may provide novel insights into the neurochemical and behavioral sequelae associated with this condition. Accordingly, to simulate the pharmacokinetic profile of a human METH binge exposure in rats, we used a computer-controlled, intravenous METH procedure (dynamic infusion, DI) to overcome species differences in METH pharmacokinetics and to replicate the human 12-h plasma METH half-life. Animals were treated over 13 weeks with escalating METH doses, using DI, and then exposed to a binge in which drug was administered every 3 h for 72 h. Throughout the binge, behavioral effects included unabated intense oral stereotypies in the absence of locomotion and in the absence of sleep. Decrements in regional brain dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels, measured at 1 and 10 h after the last injection of the binge, had, with the exception of caudate-putamen dopamine and frontal cortex serotonin, recovered by 48 h. At 10 h after the last injection of the binge, [(3)H]ligand binding to dopamine and vesicular monoamine transporters in caudate-putamen were reduced by 35 and 13%, respectively. In a separate METH binge-treated cohort, post-binge behavioral alterations were apparent in an attenuated locomotor response to a METH challenge infusion at 24 h after the last injection of the binge. Collectively, the changes we characterized during and after a METH binge suggest that for human beings under similar exposure conditions, multiple time-dependent neurochemical deficits contribute to their behavioral profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Kuczenski
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0603, USA.
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47
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Abstract
Psychoactive drug use by pregnant women has the potential to effect fetal development; the effects are often thought to be drug-specific and gestational age dependent. This article describes the effects of three drugs with similar molecular targets that involve monoaminergic transmitter systems: cocaine, methamphetamine, and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used to treat maternal depression during pregnancy. We propose a possible common epigenetic mechanism for their potential effects on the developing child. We suggest that exposure to these substances acts as a stressor that affects fetal programming, disrupts fetal placental monoamine transporter expression and alters neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter system development. We also discuss neurobehavioral techniques that may be useful in the early detection of the effects of in utero drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Salisbury
- Department of Pediatrics, Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, 101 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02905, USA.
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48
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Derauf C, Kekatpure M, Neyzi N, Lester B, Kosofsky B. Neuroimaging of children following prenatal drug exposure. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2009; 20:441-54. [PMID: 19560049 PMCID: PMC2704485 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2009.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2008] [Revised: 03/02/2009] [Accepted: 03/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in MR-based brain imaging methods have provided unprecedented capabilities to visualize the brain. Application of these methods has allowed identification of brain structures and patterns of functional activation altered in offspring of mothers who used licit (e.g., alcohol and tobacco) and illicit (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana) drugs during pregnancy. Here we review that literature, which though somewhat limited by the complexities of separating the specific effects of each drug from other confounding variables, points to sets of interconnected brain structures as being altered following prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse. In particular, dopamine-rich cortical (e.g., frontal cortex) and subcortical (e.g., basal ganglia) fetal brain structures show evidence of vulnerability to intrauterine drug exposure suggesting that during brain development drugs of abuse share a specific profile of developmental neurotoxicity. Such brain malformations may shed light on mechanisms underlying prenatal drug-induced brain injury, may serve as bio-markers of significant intrauterine drug exposure, and may additionally be predictors of subsequent neuro-developmental compromise. Wider clinical use of these research-based non-invasive methods will allow for improved diagnosis and allocation of therapeutic resources for affected infants, children, and young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Derauf
- John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
| | - Minal Kekatpure
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY
| | - Nurunisa Neyzi
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY
| | - Barry Lester
- Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women and Infants’ Hospital, Providence, RI
| | - Barry Kosofsky
- Department of Pediatrics, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY
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49
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Reviriego F, Navarro P, García-España E, Albelda MT, Frías JC, Domènech A, Yunta MJR, Costa R, Ortí E. Diazatetraester 1H-Pyrazole Crowns as Fluorescent Chemosensors for AMPH, METH, MDMA (Ecstasy), and Dopamine. Org Lett 2008; 10:5099-102. [DOI: 10.1021/ol801732t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Reviriego
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Navarro
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique García-España
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M. Teresa Albelda
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan C. Frías
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Domènech
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria J. R. Yunta
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rubén Costa
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Ortí
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
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50
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Ruksee N, Tongjaroenbuangam W, Casalotti SO, Govitrapong P. Amphetamine and pseudoephedrine cross-tolerance measured by c-Fos protein expression in brains of chronically treated rats. BMC Neurosci 2008; 9:99. [PMID: 18834549 PMCID: PMC2567327 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-9-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2008] [Accepted: 10/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pseudoephedrine is a drug commonly prescribed as a nasal decongestant and bronchodilator and is also freely available in cold remedies and medications. The structural and pharmacological similarity of pseudoephedrine to amphetamine has led to evaluation of its psychomotor stimulant properties within the central nervous system. Previous investigations have shown that the acute responses to pseudoephedrine were similar to those of amphetamine and other psychostimulants. Results This study examined the effect of chronic administration of pseudoephedrine in rat nucleus accumbens and striatum and identified three further similarities to amphetamine. (i) Chronic exposure to pseudoephedrine reduced the c-Fos response to acute pseudoephedrine treatment suggesting that pseudoephedrine induced tolerance in the animals. (ii) In animals chronically treated with amphetamine or pseudoephedrine the acute c-Fos response to pseudoephedrine and amphetamine was reduced respectively as compared to naïve animals indicating cross-tolerance for the two drugs. (iii)The known involvement of the dopamine system in the response to amphetamine and pseudoephedrine was further confirmed in this study by demonstrating that pseudoephedrine similarly to amphetamine, but with lower potency, inhibited [3H]dopamine uptake in synaptosomal preparations. Conclusion This work has demonstrated further similarities of the effect of pseudoephedrine to those of amphetamine in brain areas known to be associated with drug addiction. The most significant result presented here is the cross tolerance effect of amphetamine and psudoephedrine. This suggests that both drugs induce similar mechanisms of action in the brain. Further studies are required to establish whether despite its considerable lower potency, pseudoephedrine could pose health and addiction risks in humans similar to that of known psychostimulants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nootchanart Ruksee
- Neuro-Behavioral Biology Center, Institute of Science and Technology, Research and Development, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakornpathom, 73170, Thailand.
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