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Striatal dopamine nerve terminal markers in human, chronic methamphetamine users

Nature Medicine volume 2, pages 699–703 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

Methamphetamine is a drug that is significantly abused worldwide. Although long–lasting depletion of dopamine and other dopamine nerve terminal markers has been reported in striatum of nonhuman primates receiving very high doses of the psychostimulant1–3, no information is available for humans. We found reduced levels of three dopamine nerve terminal markers (dopamine, tyrosine hydroxylase and the dopamine transporter) in post–mortem striatum (nucleus accumbens, caudate, putamen) of chronic methamphetamine users. However, levels of DOPA decarboxylase and the vesicular monoamine transporter, known to be reduced in Parkinson's disease4,5, were normal. This suggests that chronic exposure to methamphetamine does not cause permanent degeneration of striatal dopamine nerve terminals at the doses used by the young subjects in our study. However, the dopamine reduction might explain some of the dysphoric effects of the drug, whereas the decreased dopamine transporter could provide the basis for dose escalation occurring in some methamphetamine users.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Neurochemical Pathology Laboratory, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1R8

    Julie M. Wilson, Kathleen Shannak & Stephen J. Kish

  2. Division of Forensic Toxicology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, 20306-6000, USA

    Kathryn S. Kalasinsky

  3. Department of Neurology, Emory University, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 6000, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA

    Allan I. Levey

  4. Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Toronto Hospital, Toronto, 200 Elizabeth Street, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2C4

    Catherine Bergeron

  5. Northern California Forensic Pathology, 2443 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Suite 311, Sacramento, California, 95825, USA

    Gregory Reiber & Robert M. Anthony

  6. Office of the Brown County Medical Examiner, 305 East Walnut Street, Room 602, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 54305-3600, USA

    Gregory A. Schmunk

  7. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, 1100 Florida Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70119-2799, USA

    John W. Haycock

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  1. Julie M. Wilson
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Wilson, J., Kalasinsky, K., Levey, A. et al. Striatal dopamine nerve terminal markers in human, chronic methamphetamine users. Nat Med 2, 699–703 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0696-699

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