A rapid and reversible change in dopamine transporters induced by methamphetamine

Because high doses of methamphetamine promote free radical formation, and striatal dopamine transporters are rapidly inactivated by oxidative events, we determined the effect of a single high dose of methamphetamine on dopamine transporter activity in striatal synaptosomes. One hour after methamphetamine administration, dopamine uptake decreased by 48%. This dramatic decline was totally reversed by 24 h after treatment. These findings suggest that methamphetamine reversibly decreases dopamine transporter activity by oxidative mechanisms.