Striatal subregions are differentially vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine (m-AMPH) or saline was repeatedly administered to rats. One week later, the caudate-putamen of the m-AMPH-treated rats revealed a decrease in both [3H]mazindol-labeled dopamine uptake sites and tissue dopamine content. Moreover, the resulting pattern of decline in these measures was regionally heterogeneous. The ventral caudate-putamen displayed the greatest decrease in both [3H]mazindol binding and dopamine content while the neighboring nucleus accumbens and the dorsal caudate-putamen remained relatively intact. These results indicate a regional difference in the susceptibility of striatal dopaminergic terminals to the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine.