title: Methamphetamine protects against stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions in mice.
abstract: Stress-induced gastric mucosal injury is a common clinical entity. On the other hand, abuse of methamphetamine (MA) represents a growing social problem. MA users are frequently in stressful situations. In this study, we examined the effects of MA on gastric injury, corticosterone level and immunomodulation using a water-immersion restraint stress (WRS) mouse model that is well known to induce gastric lesions. Mice were randomly divided into five groups: (1) the normal group, (2) the 3 hour (3 h)-WRS group, (3) the 6 hour (6 h)-WRS group, (4) the MA (3 mg/kg) plus 6 h-WRS group and (5) the MA (30 mg/kg) plus 6h-WRS group. As expected, most animals examined (above 90%) showed gastric injury after the WRS exposure. However, administration of MA at both 3 and 30 mg/kg resulted in significant suppression of the injury. The corticosterone levels were increased by exposure to the stress and/or MA, but there was no difference between these groups. The levels of the serum cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and TNF were increased by WRS, and were markedly increased by MA plus WRS; in particular, the level of IL-6 was synergistically increased. On the contrary, the level of IL-1beta was significantly decreased by WRS and MA plus WRS. This is the first report showing the protective effect of MA on stress-induced gastric injury, although further study is necessary to resolve the mechanism of MA-driven suppression of the injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Toxicology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan. toxicology@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okuyama
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nata
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katsuyama
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otsuki
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moriya
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishizu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D016207:Cytokines; D008694:Methamphetamine; D003345:Corticosterone