Ontogeny of neurokinin-1 receptor mediation of methamphetamine neurotoxicity in the striatum of the mouse brain.

We studied the role of the peptide substance P, signaling through the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor, on methamphetamine-induced loss of dopamine transporter sites, a well-documented marker of toxicity in the striatum of the mouse brain, because this peptide is under dynamic regulation by the neurotransmitter dopamine. Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant that induces dopamine overflow from dopamine terminals of the striatum. Mice were given four injections of methamphetamine (7.