These studies examined the effects of a high-affinity anti-(+)-methamphetamine monoclonal antibody (mAb; KD = 11 nM) on (+)-methamphetamine [(+)-METH] and (+)-amphetamine [(+)-AMP] serum and tissue disposition and serum protein binding following i.v. (+)-METH administration. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with a buffer solution (control rats) or with anti-(+)-METH mAb [equimolar in bi...

The present study investigated whether chronic methamphetamine (METH) would suppress METHinduced mRNA expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) in the rat brain. Rats were given METH or saline over two weeks. After an overnight withdrawal, salineand METH-pretreated rats received an acute saline or METH challenge. The acute METH challenge increased expression of members of activator protein 1 (...

Objective: Previous studies indicated anti-inflammatory effects for Portulaca oleracea in various inflammatory disorders. In this study, the effects of P. oleracea on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of total protein (TP), Phospholipase A2(PLA2) and IgE in sensitized rats were examined. Materials and Methods: Male rats were randomly divided into six groups namely, control (group C), s...

Objective(s): Neurodegeneration is an outcome of Methamphetamine (METH) abuse. Studies have emphasized on the neuroprotective properties of lithium. The current study is designed towards evaluating the role of Akt-1/GSK3 and CREB-BDNF signaling pathways in mediating lithium neuroprotection against METH-induced neurodegeneration in rats. Materials and ...

Previously results have been shown that chronic methamphetamine causes dependence, withdrawal syndrome and drug craving. Also, environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown protective effects in several animal models of addiction. This study evaluated effect of the EE on the anxiety-depression profile and voluntary METH consumption in METH-dependent rats after abstinence. The rats were chronical...

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse causes neurodegeneration. Medicinal herb such as crocin has neuroprotective properties. The current study evaluates the role of CREB-BDNF signaling pathway in mediating the neuroprotective effects of crocin against METH-induced neurodegeneration in rats. Sixty adult male rats were divided randomly into group 1 and group 2 which received 0.7 mL/rat ...

Re-exposure to cues repeatedly associated with methamphetamine (Meth) can trigger Meth-seeking and relapse in the abstinent abuser. Weakening the conditioned Meth-associated memory during cue re-exposure may provide a means for relapse-reduction pharmacotherapy. Accordingly, we sought to determine if the atypical antidepressant mirtazapine disrupted the persistence of Meth-induced conditioned p...

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...

Objective: This study was designed to examine the effect of environmental enrichment during methamphetamine (METH) dependency and withdrawal on methamphetamine-induced spatial learning and memory deficits and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Method: Adult male Wistar rats (200 ± 10 g) chronically received bi-daily doses of METH (2 mg/kg, sc, with 12 hours intervals) for 14 days. Rats reared in st...

Abstract Introduction Vaginal dryness is a frequent complaint, especially in post-menopausal women. The physiology underlying the production of vaginal lubrication response to arousing stimuli established; however, no current pharmacological agents successfully target mechanisms utilizing this physiology. Previous research from our lab has demonstrated that female methamphetamine (meth) users e...