METHAMPHETAMINE PROTECTS AGAINST MPTP NEUROTOXICITY IN C57BL MICE

Methamphetamine (5 mg/kg) administered 30 min prior to each injection with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyride (MPTP) (3 x 30 mg/kg, at 24 h intervals) prevents the reduction of striatal levels of dopami ne and its metabolites in C57BL mice. Methamphetamine and amphetamine inhibit the uptake of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) by striatal synaptosomes of rats. A 30-min post-treatment with methamphetamine or amphetamine also prevents the MPTP induced dopamine depletion, sugges ting that their protective effect is related to the blockade of MPP(+) uptake into dopaminergic neurons. Since amphetamine and methamphetami ne are themselves neurotoxins at higher doses, this work demonstrated the protection against the actions of one neurotoxin by the administra tion of another.