Publication at Third Faculty of Medicine |
2012
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is a commonly abused psychostimulant with potent addictive properties. This addiction has shown sex differences in behavior as well as in biochemical markers.
MA significantly affects dopaminergic neurotransmission, causes monoamine release namely dopamine, changes activity of dopamine transporter and causes distribution changes of vesicular monoamine transporter 2. These changes result in alteration of dopaminergic neurons.
On biochemical level sex differences in dopaminergic neurotransmission caused by MA both in human and in animal studies have been shown. Repeatedly described phenomenon is the increased toxicity of MA in males than in females, but females appear more dependent on MA