Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5C1.
Neuroscience. 2010 Mar 31;166(3):771-84. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.12.070. Epub 2010 Jan 4.
Methamphetamine (Meth) is a highly addictive stimulant. Meth abuse is commonly associated with the practice of sexual risk behavior and increased prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Meth users report heightened sexual desire, arousal, and sexual pleasure. The biological basis for this drug-sex nexus is unknown. The current study demonstrates that Meth administration in male rats activates neurons in brain regions of the mesolimbic system that are involved in the regulation of sexual behavior. Specifically, Meth and mating co-activate cells in the nucleus accumbens core and shell, basolateral amygdala, and anterior cingulate cortex. These findings illustrate that in contrast to current belief drugs of abuse can activate the same cells as a natural reinforcer, that is sexual behavior, and in turn may influence compulsive seeking of this natural reward.
甲基苯丙胺（冰毒）是一种高度成瘾的兴奋剂。冰毒滥用通常与性行为风险行为的实践有关，并且人类免疫缺陷病毒的流行率增加，冰毒使用者报告说性欲、唤起和性快感增强。这种药物与性的联系的生物学基础尚不清楚。目前的研究表明，在雄性大鼠中给予甲基苯丙胺会激活中脑边缘系统中参与性行为调节的脑区中的神经元。具体而言，甲基苯丙胺和交配共同激活伏隔核核心和壳、杏仁核基底外侧核和前扣带皮层中的细胞。这些发现表明，与当前的信念相反，滥用药物可以激活与自然强化物（即性行为）相同的细胞，并且反过来可能会影响对这种自然奖励的强迫性寻求。
