Selenium, an antioxidant, protects against methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity

Dopaminergic changes were studied in the caudate nucleus of adult female mi ce after pre- and post-treatment with an antioxidant, selenium, 72 h after the multiple injections of methamphetamine (METH, 4 x 10 mg/kg, i.p. at 2-h interval) or an equivalent volume of saline. Selenium treatment prevented the depletion of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylaceti c acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in caudate nucleus resulting fro m the METH treatment. These data suggest that METH-induced neurotoxicity is mediated by free radical and selenium plays a protective role against METH -induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.