Methamphetamine treatment affects blood and liver S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)
in mice. Correlation with dopamine depletion in the striatum
by
Cooney CA, Wise CK, Poirier LA, Ali SF
Division of Molecular Epidemiology,
National Center for Toxicological
Research/FDA Jefferson,
Arkansas 72079-9502, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci 1998 May 30; 844:191-200
ABSTRACT
Methamphetamine (METH) is a major drug of abuse which causes neurotoxicity by
depleting dopamine, its metabolites, high-affinity dopamine uptake sites and
tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the striatum. Dopamine depletion and reduced
dopamine transit are associated with depression. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) is
the chief methyl donor used in dopamine and other neurotransmitter metabolism in
mammals. Low SAM is associated with depression and other psychological and
neurological disorders in humans. SAM is used to treat depression and some other
neurological and psychiatric disorders. The present study was designed to
determine if single or multiple doses of METH induce alterations in blood or
liver SAM in mice and if these correlate with dopamine levels in the striatum.
Adult male C57 mice were injected intraperitoneally with either single (1 x 40
mg/kg) or multiple (4 x 10 mg/kg) doses of METH. Animals were sacrificed at
various intervals. A single injection of METH resulted in slightly higher blood
SAM levels at 4 hr. Multiple doses of METH resulted in decreased hepatic and
blood SAM levels at 72 hr. Blood SAM returned to control levels by 1 wk.
Published work shows that dopamine levels increase hours after a single
injection of METH, whereas dopamine decreases days after multiple injections of
METH. These present data clearly demonstrate that METH dosing leads to
significant alterations in liver and blood SAM and that these changes in SAM
levels correlate with changes in striatal dopamine levels.
Ice
SAMe
Tyrosine
Dopamine
Amphetamine
Tyrosine hydroxylase
Arachnids on Benzedrine
SAMe, folate and vitamin B12
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