TY - JOUR T1 - Amphetamine Treatment Similar to That Used in the Treatment of Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Damages Dopaminergic Nerve Endings in the Striatum of Adult Nonhuman Primates JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 91 LP - 98 DO - 10.1124/jpet.105.087916 VL - 315 IS - 1 AU - George A. Ricaurte AU - Annis O. Mechan AU - Jie Yuan AU - George Hatzidimitriou AU - Tao Xie AU - Andrew H. Mayne AU - Una D. McCann Y1 - 2005/10/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/315/1/91.abstract N2 - Pharmacotherapy with amphetamine is effective in the management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), now recognized in adults as well as in children and adolescents. Here we demonstrate that amphetamine treatment, similar to that used clinically for adult ADHD, damages dopaminergic nerve endings in the striatum of adult nonhuman primates. Furthermore, plasma concentrations of amphetamine associated with dopaminergic neurotoxicity in nonhuman primates are on the order of those reported in young patients receiving amphetamine for the management of ADHD. These findings may have implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of ADHD. Further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to evaluate the dopaminergic neurotoxic potential of therapeutic doses of amphetamine in children as well as adults. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics ER -