Methamphetamine toxicity in mice is potentiated by exposure to loud music

Methamphetamine (METH) is a drug of abuse used for its stimulant effects. I ts neurotoxicity is very variable, and is increased by a number of factors, including crowded conditions and increased ambient temperature. The effect s of such factors are increasingly important, with the widespread use of th ese stimulants at nightclubs and 'raves'. Here, we compared the effect of a nother dominant feature of nightclubs, continuous loud noise, on the toxici ty of METH in mice. We found that mice exposed to loud music exhibited long er lasting stereotypy, an altered place preference in the open field and ha d more seizures than mice given METH in a quiet setting or when exposed to loud white noise. A greater increase in reactive gliosis was also seen afte r exposure to MIRTH and loud music. Thus, METH appears to be more toxic whe n taken while exposed to loud music. NeuroReport 12:3277-3281 (C) 2001 Lipp incott Williams & Wilkins.