ABSTRACT
Aim Tostudytheprotectiveeffectsofin-hibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase ( nNOS ) in methamphetamine ( METH ) induced neurotoxicity via oxidativestressinjuryinrats.Methods Ratmodelsof acute METH poisoning with/without 7 nitroindazole (7-NI) pretreatment were built to evaluate the protec-tive effects on the changes of ethology, nNOS, nitro-proteins, dopamine ( DA ) and apoptosis in rat stria-tum.Results ThenNOSexpression,nitroproteinex-pression and apoptosis increased significantly in the METH group( P0. 05 ) . Stereotyped behavior increased significantly in the METH group and the 7-NI combined group compared with the 7-NI group and the control group(P<0. 01). Conclusions 7-NIshowssignificantprotectiveeffects against the alterations of DA level, nNOS expression, nitroprotein expression and apoptosis in rat striatum caused by acute METH poisoning. However, there is no obvious protective effect on METH-induced stereo-typed behavior.