Clavulanic acid inhibits methamphetamine locomotor sensitization in mice and normalizes methamphetamine-induced changes in glutaminase mRNA levels in the nucleus accumbens.

Clavulanic acid (CLAV) is a component of Augmentin® that preserves antibiotic efficacy by inhibiting β-lactamase activity. It also enhances cellular glutamate uptake and is a potential CNS therapeutic. Because increased glutamate transmission in brain reward circuits facilitates methamphetamine (METH) locomotor activation and sensitization, we tested the hypothesis that CLAV inhibits acute and sensitized locomotor responses to METH in mice and investigated effects of CLAV on METH-induced changes in glutaminase, the major glutamate-producing enzyme in the brain.