Somayeh Rostam khani - Department of Biology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Seyed Ebrahim Hoseini - Department of Biology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Davood Mehrabani - Burn and Wound Healing Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ۴.Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ۵.Center of Comparative and Experimental Medicine, Shiraz University of
Seyedeh Sara Hashemi - Burn and Wound Healing Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Amin Derakhshanfar - Center of Comparative and Experimental Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Background and Aim : Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly abused psychostimulant, while the study of cerebral injuries caused by neurotoxic effects of abused METH seems necessary. So this study examined the effect of METH on brain tissue by assessing behavioral and histological changes in experimental rat.Methods : Wistar rats (n=30) were randomly divided to two equal groups. The experimental group received METH subcutaneously (2 mg/kg, 0.5 mL/rat) at 12 hours intervals, for 2 weeks, and the control group received normal saline identically (0.5 mL/rat). Histological evaluation was done after 1, 2 and 3 weeks post-interventions. Using an elevated plus-maze (EPM), the animals’ behavior was evaluated by ODLog program and the nociceptive sensitivity was assessed by Plantar testResults : One week after METH use in cerebrum, macrogliosis was visible and after 2 weeks, changes as dysmyelination and after 3 weeks, leukoencephalomalacia and laminar necrosis. In meninges after 2 weeks, vasodilation, hyperemia, and hemorrhage were visible in the tissue. Regarding behavioral changes and METH effect on mean percentage of behavioral alterations at the end of the first, second and third week, METH use could significantly reduce the spatial memory in experimental group, but when the effect of METH on the mean number of arms of the entered rats was evaluated at the end of the first, second and third week, no significant effect was visible after METH use in the experimental group.Conclusion : Histological changes after METH use in the cerebrum revealed macrogliosis, dysmyelination leukoencephalomalacia and laminar necrosis. These changes in meninges were vasodilation, hyperemia, and hemorrhage. Regarding METH effect on mean percentage of behavioral alterations, METH use significantly reduced the spatial memory in experimental group.

Behavior, Histology, Nervous system, Brain, Methamphetamine