Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants

Drugs Acting on Autonomic Ganglia: Stimulants

Ganglionic stimulants activate NM nicotinic receptors in autonomic ganglia, falling into two categories: nicotine mimetics [e.g., lobeline, dimethylpiperazine, tetramethylammonium] and muscarinic receptor agonists [e.g., muscarine, methacholine]. The first category's action is rapid and blocked by nicotinic receptor antagonists, while the second category's action is delayed and blocked by atropine-like agents. Nicotine, an alkaloid, affects the heart rate by stimulating...

Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents

Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents

Indirect-acting adrenergic agonists potentiate the effects of endogenous catecholamines through different mechanisms without directly binding to adrenoceptors.
One mechanism involves depleting stored catecholamines by displacing them from synaptic vesicles. These agents, known as "displacers," are transported into vesicles at the expense of noradrenaline. Examples include amphetamine and tyramine, which lack a catechol moiety, resulting in prolonged action, improved oral...

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids

CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its...

Adrenergic Agonists: Mixed-Action Agents

Adrenergic Agonists: Mixed-Action Agents

Mixed-action adrenergic agonists, like ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, directly and indirectly affect adrenergic receptors. These agents stimulate adrenoceptors and indirectly release stored neurotransmitters, amplifying the adrenergic response.
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine lack a catecholamine group, making them less susceptible to degradation by metabolic enzymes. They have increased oral bioavailability and lipophilicity, resulting in a longer duration of action. Their response is reduced by...

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...

Stimulants

Stimulants

Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 4 C misdiagnosed as CIDP: electrodiagnostic pitfalls and genetic confirmation.

Neurogenetics·2026

Same author

Post-translational modifications in the brain are critical contributors to Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and cognitive decline.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Translation and psychometric validation of the Persian version of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cognitive behavioral screen (ALS-CBS) and revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R).

Current journal of neurology·2026

Same author

Expanding the genetic and clinical landscapes of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP): a cohort study of 103 families.

Orphanet journal of rare diseases·2026

Same author

The Value of Anti-Drug Antibody Detection in Discriminating Patients from Healthy Controls and Predicting the Gross Motor Functional State in Patients with Pompe Disease.

Iranian journal of allergy, asthma, and immunology·2026

Same author

Insights From Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping: An Umbrella Review of Multiple Sclerosis.

Health science reports·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Single Cell Measurement of Dopamine Release with Simultaneous Voltage-clamp and Amperometry

Single Cell Measurement of Dopamine Release with Simultaneous Voltage-clamp and Amperometry

Published on: November 21, 2012

Impaired arterial smooth muscle cell vasodilatory function in methamphetamine users.

Ghaemeh Nabaei¹, Shahram Oveisgharan¹, Askar Ghorbani¹

¹Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

|October 25, 2016

Summary

Methamphetamine users show reduced nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation (NMD), indicating smooth muscle dysfunction. This vascular impairment may explain the increased stroke risk associated with methamphetamine use.

Keywords:

Carotid intima-media thickness Flow-mediated dilatation Methamphetamine Nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation Stroke Ultrasound

More Related Videos

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

Published on: January 22, 2016

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy

Published on: September 29, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Single Cell Measurement of Dopamine Release with Simultaneous Voltage-clamp and Amperometry

Single Cell Measurement of Dopamine Release with Simultaneous Voltage-clamp and Amperometry

Published on: November 21, 2012

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration

Published on: January 22, 2016

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy

Published on: September 29, 2017

Area of Science:

Vascular Biology
Cardiovascular Health
Neuroscience

Background:

Methamphetamine use is a significant risk factor for stroke.
Understanding the vascular effects of methamphetamine is crucial for stroke prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

To ultrasonographically evaluate arterial function and structure in methamphetamine users.
To compare arterial parameters between methamphetamine users and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

Cross-sectional study of 20 methamphetamine users and 21 controls (aged 20-40).
Measured common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation (NMD).

Main Results:

No significant differences in CCA-IMT or FMD between groups.
Nitroglycerine-mediated dilatation (NMD) was significantly reduced in methamphetamine users (p=0.03).
Demographic and metabolic characteristics were similar between groups.

Conclusions:

Methamphetamine users exhibit impaired smooth muscle-dependent vasodilation (reduced NMD).
This smooth muscle dysfunction may contribute to the elevated stroke risk in this population.
Further research into methamphetamine's vascular effects is warranted.