title: Repeated methamphetamine-treatment alters brain sigma receptors.
abstract: The present study was undertaken to examine whether repeated exposure of rats to the psychostimulant drug, methamphetamine, induces changes in sigma receptor binding. A significant up-regulation (130-145% of control Bmax) of sigma receptors, labeled with [3H](+)pentazocine, was observed in the substantia nigra, frontal cortex and cerebellum of rats treated with methamphetamine (4.0 mg/kg per day; 10 days). These findings suggest that methamphetamine-induced psychosis may be associated with the up-regulation of sigma receptors in critical brain regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33101.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itzhak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017480:Receptors, sigma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D017480:Receptors, sigma; D008694:Methamphetamine