The loss of dopamine terminals in the striatum in response to high doses of methamphetamine has been well established. Although toxicity has been shown to be dependent upon the methamphetamine-induced release of dopamine into the extracellular space, the exact mechanism by which dopamine induces toxicity remains unclear. One mechanism often proposed is that dopamine can oxidize to form reactive metabolites such as free radicals and DA quinones that may attack cellular components resulting in toxicity. Although some evidence exists to support this theory, the relation between the oxidation of dopamine and drug-induced toxicity has not been examined directly. Thus, the goal of this study is to rigorously test the hypothesis that dopamine oxidation plays a role in the mechanism of methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. The proposal aims to examine specific measures of dopamine oxidation during and after exposure to methamphetamine: the formation of free and protein-bound cysteinyl-catechols, and salicylate trapping of hydroxyl radicals. Pharmacological manipulations of dopamine synthesis and metabolism will be used to correlate dopamine oxidation with the resulting toxicity. Antioxidant levels in tissue and extracellular fluid also will be monitored during exposure to methamphetamine. Pharmacological manipulations that increase or decrease brain levels of antioxidants will be used to examine the effect of brain antioxidant status on dopamine oxidation and the resulting toxicity. Finally, the hypothesis that dopamine-induced oxidative stress can influence extracellular levels of potentially toxic neurotransmitters via disruption of the dopamine and/or glutamate transporters will be examined. The findings may suggest that individuals who abuse amphetamines are at risk for the development of permanent damage to the CNS. Therapeutic intervention in the form of antioxidant supplementation may be warranted to prevent permanent-damage to the CNS and to reduce the potential predisposition of these individuals for the development of Parkinson's disease later in life.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA009601-02
Application #
2458438
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Lin, Geraline
Project Start
1996-09-01
Project End
1999-07-31
Budget Start
1997-08-01
Budget End
1998-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053785812
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Van Laar, Victor S; Mishizen, Amanda J; Cascio, Michael et al. (2009) Proteomic identification of dopamine-conjugated proteins from isolated rat brain mitochondria and SH-SY5Y cells. Neurobiol Dis 34:487-500
Dukes, April A; Van Laar, Victor S; Cascio, Michael et al. (2008) Changes in endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins and aldolase A in cells exposed to dopamine. J Neurochem 106:333-46
Van Laar, Victor S; Dukes, April A; Cascio, Michael et al. (2008) Proteomic analysis of rat brain mitochondria following exposure to dopamine quinone: implications for Parkinson disease. Neurobiol Dis 29:477-89
Dukes, April A; Korwek, Kimberly M; Hastings, Teresa G (2005) The effect of endogenous dopamine in rotenone-induced toxicity in PC12 cells. Antioxid Redox Signal 7:630-8
LaVoie, Matthew J; Card, J Patrick; Hastings, Teresa G (2004) Microglial activation precedes dopamine terminal pathology in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity. Exp Neurol 187:47-57
Perez, Ruth G; Hastings, Teresa G (2004) Could a loss of alpha-synuclein function put dopaminergic neurons at risk? J Neurochem 89:1318-24
Zigmond, Michael J; Hastings, Teresa G; Perez, Ruth G (2002) Increased dopamine turnover after partial loss of dopaminergic neurons: compensation or toxicity? Parkinsonism Relat Disord 8:389-93
Berman, S B; Watkins, S C; Hastings, T G (2000) Quantitative biochemical and ultrastructural comparison of mitochondrial permeability transition in isolated brain and liver mitochondria: evidence for reduced sensitivity of brain mitochondria. Exp Neurol 164:415-25
Stokes, A H; Hastings, T G; Vrana, K E (1999) Cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of dopamine. J Neurosci Res 55:659-65
LaVoie, M J; Hastings, T G (1999) Dopamine quinone formation and protein modification associated with the striatal neurotoxicity of methamphetamine: evidence against a role for extracellular dopamine. J Neurosci 19:1484-91

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