D-alanine inhibits methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity in rats

Eur J Pharmacol. 1991 Sep 4;202(1):105-7. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(91)90261-n.

Abstract

Bilateral intracerebroventricular injection of D-alanine (200-600 micrograms/rat) antagonized the ability of methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg s.c.) to induce locomotor stimulation in the rat. In contrast, L-alanine (600 micrograms/rat) failed to affect the behavioral change induced by methamphetamine. The stereoselectivity parallels the potency of these amino acids as agonists for the strychnine-insensitive glycine binding site within the NMDA receptor complex. These results support the view that reduced excitatory amino acidergic neurotransmission may be involved in methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine / administration & dosage
  • Alanine / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Injections, Intraventricular
  • Male
  • Methamphetamine / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Methamphetamine / pharmacology
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Receptors, Glycine
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / drug effects
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter / drug effects
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Stereotyped Behavior / drug effects
  • Strychnine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Receptors, Glycine
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter
  • Methamphetamine
  • Strychnine
  • Alanine