2-Minute Neuroscience: Methamphetamine

Описание: In this video, I discuss how methamphetamine works in the brain to produce its strong stimulant effects.

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TRANSCRIPT

Methamphetamine is a potent stimulant drug. Although it’s approved by the FDA for the treatment of ADHD and obesity—and was commonly prescribed for these conditions in the United States in the 1950s and 60s, today its use is primarily recreational. A less potent isomer (or form) of the methamphetamine molecule, however, is found in several over-the-counter decongestants. A crystallized form of methamphetamine, often referred to as crystal meth, is commonly abused and is a smoke-able form of the drug.

The main mechanism of action of methamphetamine in the central nervous system is similar to that of amphetamine. The drug first binds to proteins that are responsible for transporting the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin from the synaptic cleft and back into the neurons that released them. Methamphetamine is taken up into neurons via these transporter proteins. Once inside the neuron, methamphetamine disrupts the packaging of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin into synaptic vesicles, which leads to high levels of these neurotransmitters inside the neuron, eventually causing the increased release of these neurotransmitters. This is thought to be responsible for the recognizable psychostimulant effects of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine also causes increased release of norepinephrine in the sympathetic nervous system, which is thought to be the primary mechanism in methamphetamine’s strong effects on the cardiovascular system.

Despite the similarities in mechanism, however, methamphetamine is considered a more potent drug than amphetamine. Studies have identified several possible reasons for this increased potency. One is that methamphetamine is more lipophilic than amphetamine, which enables it to cross into the brain very rapidly and efficiently. This can cause quickly-occurring, intense, and long-lasting effects. Studies have also found methamphetamine may cause more dopamine release than amphetamine, which suggests methamphetamine also may be generally more effective at increasing neurotransmitter levels.


REFERENCES

Abbruscato TJ, Trippier PC. DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Methamphetamine. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2018 Oct 17;9(10):2373-2378. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00123. Epub 2018 Apr 6. PMID: 29602278.

Goodwin JS, Larson GA, Swant J, Sen N, Javitch JA, Zahniser NR, De Felice LJ, Khoshbouei H. Amphetamine and methamphetamine differentially affect dopamine transporters in vitro and in vivo. J Biol Chem. 2009 Jan 30;284(5):2978-2989. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M805298200. Epub 2008 Dec 1. PMID: 19047053; PMCID: PMC2631950.

Heal DJ, Smith SL, Gosden J, Nutt DJ. Amphetamine, past and present--a pharmacological and clinical perspective. J Psychopharmacol. 2013 Jun;27(6):479-96. doi: 10.1177/0269881113482532. Epub 2013 Mar 28. PMID: 23539642; PMCID: PMC3666194.

Kish SJ. Pharmacologic mechanisms of crystal meth. CMAJ. 2008 Jun 17;178(13):1679-82. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.071675. PMID: 18559805; PMCID: PMC2413312.


Image of Desoxyn is the unmodified work of Kebin Beins. Original image here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...



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My name is Marc, and I want to immerse you in the fascinating world of neuroscience. When I'm not making videos, I'm a university professor at Penn State. I made this channel to help simplify complex topics into easy-to-understand snippets, perfect for students & enthusiasts alike. 📚

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