The Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Behavioral Sensitization to Methamphetamine in Mice

TL;DR

This study explores how N-acetylcysteine affects the increased response to methamphetamine in mice, suggesting it may help reduce addictive behaviors.

Contribution

The study provides new preclinical evidence on NAC's potential to reduce methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization.

Findings

NAC reduced the acute stimulatory effect of methamphetamine in mice.

There was a non-significant trend of attenuated development of behavioral sensitization with long-term MET and NAC administration.

NAC's effects on MET suggest possible efficacy in reducing its addictive properties.

Abstract

Behavioral sensitization is a phenomenon occurring after repeated administration of various psychotropic substances and it is characterized by gradually increasing response to the particular drug. It has been described for majority of addictive substances including amphetamines. It is considered to reinstate drug-seeking behaviour and plays important role in the processes associated with drug abuse and addiction. There are published reports, particularly on preclinical level, that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may affect addictive properties of different classes of drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin, alcohol, cannabinoids, nicotine). Since the lack of information on possible effects of NAC on amphetamine derivatives we decided to test possible influence of this substance on behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine (MET) in the mouse open field test. Our results have shown a decreased acute stimulatory effect of MET caused by NAC and moreover, there was a non-significant trend of attenuated development of behavioral sensitization to MET after simultaneous long-term administration of MET and NAC. This suppression of MET stimulatory effects therefore suggested on the preclinical level possible promising efficacy of NAC on addictive properties associated with MET similarly as it was demonstrated by other authors in association with cocaine or heroin.

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