We tested the hypothesis that differences in (+)-methamphetamine (METH) disposition during late rat pregnancy could lead to increased vulnerability to acute METH effects. The disposition of a single 1 mg/kg i.v. METH dose was studied during early (gestation day 7, GD7) and late (GD21) gestation. Results showed gestation time-dependent pharmacokinetics, characterized by a significantly higher ar...

Using a general solvent-free procedure for the synthesis of chiral Schiff bases, the following compounds were synthesized and their crystal structures determined: (S)-(+)-2-{[(1-phenyl-eth-yl)imino]-meth-yl}naphthalene, C19H17N, (1), (S)-(+)-2-({[(4-methyl-phen-yl)eth-yl]imino}-meth-yl)naphthalene, C20H19N, (2), (R)-(-)-2-({[(4-meth-oxy-lphen-yl)eth-yl]imino}-meth-yl)naphthalene, C20H19NO, (3),...

Meth A gp110 has been tentatively identified as a tumor rejection antigen. Following isolation of a class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted, CD8+ anti-Meth A cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL), we sought to determine whether the determinant recognized by this CTL was: (a) functional in tumor rejection of Meth A sarcoma; and (b) derived from Meth A gp110. Initially, we isolated an an...

Ch-mAb7F9, a human-mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody (mAb) designed to bind (+)-methamphetamine (METH) with high affinity and specificity, was produced as a treatment medication for METH abuse. In these studies, we present the preclinical characterization that provided predictive evidence that ch-mAb7F9 may be safe and effective in humans. In vitro ligand binding studies showed that ch-mAb7F9 ...

Preclinical studies suggest that prior treatment with escalating doses of methamphetamine (METH) attenuates the persistent deficits in hippocampal serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5HT) transporter (SERT) function resulting from a subsequent 'binge' METH exposure. Previous work also demonstrates that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) exposure increases SERT function. The current study inve...

Methamphetamine (METH) addiction is associated with several neuropsychiatric symptoms. Little is known about the effects of METH on gene expression and epigenetic modifications in the rat nucleus accumbens (NAC). Our study investigated the effects of a non-toxic METH injection (20 mg/kg) on gene expression, histone acetylation, and the expression of the histone acetyltransferase (HAT), ATF2, an...

Organic cation transporter-3 (OCT3) is expressed in several tissues including the brain. We have previously demonstrated that rats with behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine (METH) increased the brain penetration of METH with decreased expression of OCT3 in brain. Considering the earlier in vitro studies demonstrating that 1) OCT3 could transport dopamine (DA) and 2) the specific transpor...

The abuse of methamphetamine (METH) and other amphetamine-like stimulants is a growing problem in the United States. METH is a substrate for the 12-transmembrane proteins which function as transporters for the biogenic amines dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE). Increased release of CNS DA is thought to mediate the addictive effects of METH, whereas increased release of NE ...

The effects of methamphetamine (METH) on pro-oxidant processes and on the production of reactive oxygen species were examined in vivo in the rat brain. The presence of oxidative damage in striatum, as revealed by the oxidation of lipid, also was assessed via the measurement of the lipid peroxidation product malonyldialdehyde. To elucidate further the mechanisms mediating METH-induced oxidative ...

Understanding the relationship between the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotoxicity of high-dose methamphetamine (METH) and related clinical manifestations is imperative for providing more effective treatments for human METH users. This article provides an overview of clinical manifestations of METH neurotoxicity to the central nervous system and neurobiology underlying the consequences of...