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Methamphetamine induces DNA damage in specific regions of the female rat brain
Author(s) -
Johnson Zane,
Venters Jace,
Guarraci Fay A,
ZewailFoote Maha
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/1440-1681.12404
Subject(s) - meth , methamphetamine , nucleus accumbens , dopamine , dna damage , neurotoxicity , chemistry , striatum , oxidative stress , dopamine transporter , comet assay , pharmacology , monoamine neurotransmitter , brain damage , biology , biochemistry , endocrinology , dna , neuroscience , toxicity , serotonin , receptor , monomer , organic chemistry , dopaminergic , acrylate , polymer
Summary Methamphetamine ( METH ) is a highly addictive psychostimulant that has been shown to produce neurotoxicity. Methamphetamine increases the release of dopamine by reversing the direction of monoamine transporter proteins, leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species in the brain. In this study, we examined the effect of METH on DNA damage in vivo using the single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) under two different conditions. Rats treated with multiple doses of METH (10 mg/kg × 4) showed significant levels of DNA damage in the nucleus accumbens and striatum, both dopamine‐rich areas. In contrast, a single dose of METH did not lead to significant levels of DNA damage in any of the dopamine‐rich brain regions that were tested. Overall, the results of our study demonstrate that METH produces greater oxidative DNA damage in brain areas that receive greater dopamine innervation.