Differential toxic effects of methamphetamine (METH) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in multidrug-resistant (mdr1a) knockout mice

Methamphetamine (METH) and MDMA affect dopamine systems differently depending on the presence of P-glycoproteins, which regulate entry into the brain via the blood-brain barrier. In mice lacking the mdr1a gene (knockout), low doses of METH (2.5 mg/kg) caused marked decreases in dopamine and dopamine transporters in the striatum and nucleus accumbens, whereas wild-type mice showed only small changes. Higher METH doses produced similar effects in both strains. Conversely, MDMA caused greater percentage decreases in dopamine transporters in wild-type mice, with the lowest dose (5 mg/kg) significantly reducing transporters in the nucleus accumbens of wild-type but not knockout mice. These findings indicate that P-glycoproteins may facilitate MDMA entry into the brain but interfere with METH entry.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The toxic effects of methamphetamine (METH) (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/kg) on dopaminergic systems were assessed in the striatum and of the nucleus accumbens in mdr1a wild-type and knockout mice. METH caused significant dose-dependent decreases of dopamine (DA) and DA transporters (DAT) in the striatum and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of both wild-type and knockout mice. The lowest doses of METH (2.5 mg/kg) caused only small changes in the wild-type, but marked. decreases in the mdr1a knockout mice. The two higher doses (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) caused similar changes in both strains of mice. In contrast to METH, MDMA caused greater percentage decreases in DAT in the wild-type mice. For example, the lowest dose (5 mg/kg) caused significant decreases in DAT in the NAc of wild-type but not of mdr1a knockout mice. The highest dose (20 mg/kg) caused similar changes in both the strains. These results suggest that METH and MDMA interact differentially with P-glycoproteins. These observations document, for the first time, a role for these proteins in the entry of METH and MDMA into the brain via the blood-brain barrier, with P-glycoprotein possibly facilitating the entry of MDMA but interfering with that of METH into the brain.