AUTHOR=Zuloaga Damian G., Jacobskind Jason , Raber Jacob 

TITLE=Methamphetamine and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2015.00178

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2015.00178

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=<p>Psychostimulants such as methamphetamine (MA) induce significant alterations in the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These changes in HPA axis function are associated with altered stress-related behaviors and might contribute to addictive processes such as relapse. In this mini-review we discuss acute and chronic effects of MA (adult and developmental exposure) on the HPA axis, including effects on HPA axis associated genes/proteins, brain regions, and behaviors such as anxiety and depression. A better understanding of the mechanisms through which MA affects the HPA axis may lead to more effective treatment strategies for MA addiction.</p>