title: Neurotoxicity of methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine.
abstract: Amphetamines are a class of psychostimulant drugs that are widely abused for their stimulant, euphoric, empathogenic and hallucinogenic properties. Many of these effects result from acute increases in dopamine and serotonin neurotransmission. Subsequent to these acute effects, methamphetamine and 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produce persistent damage to dopamine and serotonin nerve terminals. This review summarizes the numerous interdependent mechanisms including excitotoxicity, mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress that have been demonstrated to contribute to this damage. Emerging non-neuronal mechanisms by which the drugs may contribute to monoaminergic terminal damage, as well as the neuropsychiatric consequences of this terminal damage are also presented. Methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) have similar chemical structures and pharmacologic properties compared to other abused substances including cathinone (khat), as well as a relatively new class of novel synthetic amphetamines known as 'bath salts' that have gained popularity among drug abusers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Halpin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA. Electronic address: Bryan.Yamamoto@utoledo.edu.
authors.forename: Bryan K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000633:toxicity; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D006213:Hallucinogens; D012701:Serotonin; D008694:Methamphetamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: 3-4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine; Excitotoxicity; Methamphetamine; Neurotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Psychosis
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