title: Amphetamine-related drugs neurotoxicity in humans and in experimental animals: Main mechanisms.
abstract: Amphetamine-related drugs, such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (METH), are popular recreational psychostimulants. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated that, besides having the potential for abuse, amphetamine-related drugs may also elicit neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory effects. The neurotoxic potentials of MDMA and METH to dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons have been clearly demonstrated in both rodents and non-human primates. This review summarizes the species-specific cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in MDMA and METH-mediated neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory effects, along with the most important behavioral changes elicited by these substances in experimental animals and humans. Emphasis is placed on the neuropsychological and neurological consequences associated with the neuronal damage. Moreover, we point out the gap in our knowledge and the need for developing appropriate therapeutic strategies to manage the neurological problems associated with amphetamine-related drug abuse.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain; CIBERNED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: moratalla@cajal.csic.es.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moratalla
authors.affiliation: Applied Neuroscience Research Group, CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khairnar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Simola
authors.affiliation: Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain; CIBERNED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Granado
authors.affiliation: Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain; CIBERNED, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Ruben
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: García-Montes
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Francesca
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Porceddu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tizabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Neurobiology of Dependence, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
keywords: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine; Dopamine; Ecstasy; MDMA; METH; Methamphetamine; Mouse; Neurodegeneration; Neuroinflammation neurotoxicity; Non-human primate; Rat