NICOTINAMIDE ATTENUATES METHAMPHETAMINE-INDUCED STRIATAL DOPAMINE DEPLETION IN RATS

THE aim of the present study was to examine the effects of nicotinamid e, a co-factor in the electron transport chain, on the relationship be tween methamphetamine (MA)-induced striatal dopamine (DA) depletion an d energy metabolism change. Four injections of MA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) at 2 h intervals resulted in decreases of 51% and 23%, respectively, in s triatal DA and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) levels 5 days later. Ni cotinamide (500 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment prior to each MA injection atte nuated the reductions of striatal DA and ATP contents. Nicotinamide ha d no long-term effects on striatal DA and ATP levels. These findings s uggest that energy impairment might play a role in MA-induced DAergic neurotoxicity in the striatum.