Dextromethorphan protects against the neurotoxic effects of p-chloroamphetamine in rats.
Dextromethorphan, an agent that blocks the neuronal-damaging effects of hypoxemia in vitro, was tested for its ability to prevent the neurotoxic effects of p-chloroamphetamine (PCA). Rats were treated with either saline, PCA, dextromethorphan, or the combination of PCA and increasing doses of dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan provided a dose-related protection against the serotonin (5-HT)-depleting effects of PCA. These observations may offer a clue as to the mechanism responsible for PCA-induced neurotoxicity.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
K T
KT
Finnegan
J T
JT
Kerr
J W
JW
Langston
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010133:p-Chloroamphetamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D010133:p-Chloroamphetamine; D003915:Dextromethorphan