The role of glutamate in behavioral and neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine.
Studies on the mechanisms of behavioral and neurochemical effects of amphetamine or methamphetamine (MA) have focused on the dopaminergic system. However, recent reports suggest that the glutamatergic system may be involved in the MA effects. Our laboratory has been conducting a series of experiments to further examine the role of glutamate in both behavioral and neurotoxic effects of MA. These studies include (1) behavioral studies on the effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists on the development of MA-induced behavioral sensitization, (2) neurochemical studies on the effects of NMDA antagonists on MA-induced neurotoxicity, and (3) in vivo microdialysis studies on the effects of MA on glutamate release. In the present paper, the authors comment on an important role of glutamatergic systems in the behavioral and toxic effects of MA.
Ohmori
T
T
Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Abekawa
T
T
Koyama
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008694:Methamphetamine; D016202:N-Methylaspartate