Methamphetamine (METH) is an illicit psychostimulant that is subject to abuse worldwide. While the modulatory effects of METH on dopamine neurotransmission and its neurotoxicity in the central nervous system are well studied, METH’s effects on modulating microglial neuroimmune functions and on eliciting neuroinflammation to affect dopaminergic neurotoxicity has attracted considerable attention in recent years. The primary goal of the current review is to re-evaluate this neurotoxicity from the perspective of reactive microglial cell changes, as neuroinflammatory reactions have been reported to occur following METH administration and are believed to causally contribute to METH-induced neurotoxicity.

Fatemeh S et al. (2018) Methamphetamine neurotoxicity, microglia, and neuroinflammation. J Neuroinflammation. 15: 341. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1385-0.

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Sections of the Background, METH neurotoxicity and reactive gliosis, and Conclusion are presented in the Podcast. Access the full-text article here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6292109/