Methamphetamine causes lipid peroxidation and an increase in superoxide dismutase activity in the rat striatum

The administration of methamphetamine to experimental animals results in da mage to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. In the present study, we demons trated that both the acute repeated and the chronic administration of metha mphetamine causes an increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, w hich are indicators of lipid peroxidation, and superoxide dismutase activit y in the rat striatum. The results of present study strengthen the notion t hat reactive oxygen species may play an important role in the methamphetami ne-induced neurotoxicity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.