The acute effects of methamphetamine, amphetamine and p-chloroamphetamine on the cortical serotonergic system of the rat brain: evidence for differences in the effects of methamphetamine and amphetamine.

Cortical tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activity was reduced 3 h after a 10 or 15 mg/kg i.p. dose of either amphetamine (AMP), methamphetamine (METH), or p-chloroamphetamine (PCA). These injections of METH or PCA also decreased cortical serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations; none of the four doses of AMP decreased indoleamine concentrations. The time course of the effects following a 15 mg/kg dose of each amine was also different. Cortical TPH activity was reduced by all three amines for periods up to 24 h, whereas only METH and PCA significantly decreased 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations for long periods. These data suggest that each of the amphetamines may inhibit TPH activity, whereas only METH and PCA produced long-lasting decreases in indoleamine concentrations, reflecting either varying degrees of toxicity or differential effects of AMP on enzyme activity and neurotransmitter concentrations.