Methamphetamine (MA) is a representative drug of amphetamine-type stimulants for central nervous system and has become one of the most dangerous drugs in the world recently. The present article reviews the pharmacological effects, distribution, metabolism, intoxication mechanism, the effects of MA on cardiovascular and central nervous systems of MA, and the current situation of forensic investigation on MA.
Amphetamine-Related Disorders/pathology* ; Animals ; Central Nervous System/pathology* ; Central Nervous System Stimulants/poisoning* ; Forensic Toxicology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Methamphetamine/poisoning* ; Substance Abuse Detection/methods*

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) is the most widespread narcotics in the 21st century. The methamphetamine's intoxication mechanism, psychological dependence, drug resistance and therapeutic drug development are the hot spots in current research. Establishment of animal model with methamphetamine poisoning is the basic for the relative studies, the normalization and standardization of the animal model settles the foundation for methamphetamine's further research. This article reviews the animal model of methamphetamine poisoning in China and abroad, the brief history of the acute, subacute and chronic animal model of methamphetamine poisoning, as well as the principles and methods of the animal model establishment and its evaluation criteria. The necessity, significance and its scientific expansion of performing experimental research on the methamphetamine poisoning animal model are also discussed.
Amphetamine-Related Disorders/psychology* ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal/drug effects* ; Central Nervous System Stimulants/poisoning* ; Cerebral Cortex/drug effects* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Forensic Toxicology ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Methamphetamine/poisoning* ; Stereotyped Behavior/drug effects*