Abstract:

Objective　To explore amphetamine-induced behavioral alteration, and fiber injury in the mouse striatum.　Methods　Mice were randomly divided into the normal, saline and amphetamine groups. The amphetamine group was subdivided into 1d，7d，14 d and 28 d groups. Mice were treated with amphetamine 2 mg·kg-1·d-1  via intraperitoneal injection in the amphetamine group. Autonomous behavior activities were tested during establishing amphetamine model. Nauta method was used to study the injury of fibers in the mouse striatum induced by amphetamine.　Results　Behaviour test showed that total moving distance, average speed, maximum speed, moving fast time/total time in the amphetamine groups at 7, 14 and 28 days were increased as compared with the normal group and saline group (P<0.05). There was no difference in moving slow time/total time between the amphetamine group and others groups (P>0.05). Nauta staining demonstrated black degenerated nerve fibers in mouse striatum of amphetamine groups at 14 and 28 days.　Conclusions　Amphetamine may increase many autonomous behavior activities and cause the degeneration of nerve fibers in the mouse striatum.

Key words: Amphetamine, Behavior, Striatum, Fiber