Single doses of methamphetamine cause changes in the density of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Single doses of methamphetamine (25 mg/kg) were administered to adult gerbils. All detectable spines were counted along defined segments of basal, apical and lateral dendrites of Golgi-impregnated pyramidal cells in the medial prefrontal cortex (layers III and V) and the parietal cortex (layer V). These two areas were selected because previous investigations had shown methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity in prefrontal cortex but not in parietal cortex. The frequencies of dendritic spines in methamphetamine-treated gerbils were found to be significantly increased in the prefrontal cortex, while no significant change was found in the parietal cortex.