安非他明和取代安非他明,包括甲基苯丙胺,哌醋甲酯(利他林),亚甲二氧基甲基苯丙胺(摇头丸),还有草药卡塔和麻黄,包括唯一广泛使用的主要释放神经递质的药物,在这种情况下主要是儿茶酚胺,通过非外细胞机制。这些药物在许多文化中发挥着重要的医学和社会作用,对心理功能和行为产生深远的影响,会产生神经变性和成瘾。关于这些化合物诱导儿茶酚胺释放的不寻常的分子机制,仍然存在许多问题。我们回顾了关于两个明显的主要机制的当前问题-儿茶酚胺从突触小泡到细胞质的再分布,以及通过质膜摄取载体诱导递质的反向转运-以及影响细胞外儿茶酚胺水平的其他药物作用,包括摄取抑制,对胞吐作用的影响,神经递质合成,和新陈代谢。
Amphetamine and substituted amphetamines, including methamphetamine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), and the herbs khat and ephedra, encompass the only widely administered class of drugs that predominantly release neurotransmitter, in this case principally catecholamines, by a non-exocytic mechanism. These drugs play important medicinal and social roles in many cultures, exert profound effects on mental function and behavior, and can produce neurodegeneration and addiction. Numerous questions remain regarding the unusual molecular mechanisms by which these compounds induce catecholamine release. We
review current issues on the two apparent primary mechanisms--the redistribution of catecholamines from synaptic vesicles to the cytosol, and induction of reverse transport of transmitter through plasma membrane uptake carriers--and on additional drug effects that affect extracellular catecholamine levels, including uptake inhibition, effects on exocytosis, neurotransmitter synthesis, and metabolism.