Differential effects of stimulants on monoaminergic transporters: Pharmacological consequences and implications for neurotoxicity

Many psychostimulants alter plasmalemmal monoaminergic transporter function . Some, such as cocaine, prevent the reuptake of newly released dopamine, s erotonin or norepinephrine into their associated neurons. Others, such as t he amphetamines, facilitate release of these transmitters into the extraneu ronal space by causing a reversal of function of these carrier proteins. An understanding of how psychostimulants regulate the function of not only pl asmalemmal, but also vesicular monoamine transporter function is important to appreciate the pharmacological and sometimes neurotoxic consequences of administering these drugs, as well as the physiological regulation of these carrier proteins. Hence, this review will describe recent ex vivo studies investigating the rapid and differential affects of several stimulants on b oth plasmalemmal and vesicular monoamine transporter function. (C) 2000 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.