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Methamphetamine Fails to Alter the Noradrenergic Integrity of the Heart
Author(s) -
Ruffoli Riccardo,
Soldani Paola,
Pasquali Livia,
Ruggieri Stefano,
Paparelli Antonio,
Fornai Francesco
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1432.017
Subject(s) - methamphetamine , mptp , parkinsonism , dopamine , parkinson's disease , neurotoxin , medicine , norepinephrine , dopaminergic , disease , cardiomyopathy , endocrinology , heart failure
The chronic use of methamphetamine leads to cardiomyopathy and a nigrostriatal dopamine deficiency that partly mimics what occurs in Parkinson's disease. This study examines the cardiac effects occurring after chronic administration of methamphetamine and parkinsonism‐inducing neurotoxin 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine. Despite the similarities concerning the nigrostriatal dopamine denervation, methamphetamine failed to produce chronic norepinephrine depletion in the heart, thus contrasting with what occurs in Parkinson's disease or after administration of 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine. These data suggest that the chronic cardiovascular effects induced by methamphetamine rely on biochemical changes which differ from those activated by 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine or during the course of Parkinson's disease.