Cortical synaptosomes were prepared from pregnant dams (GD-17) and rat fetuses (ED-17), loaded with [3H]5-HT and assayed to evaluate release mediated by cocaine (COC), fenfluramine (FEN) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). COC and FEN elicited a high-affinity (10(-9) M) release response in fetal tissue which was not apparent in the dam. MDMA-induced release was similar in magnitude in...
The direct effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) were studied in microculture of fetal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons. Both MDMA and PCA released 5-HT with the potency of PCA > MDMA by a mechanism inhibited by fluoxetine, and inhibitor of the 5-HT transporter. The transporter-mediated release by MDMA and PCA reduced intracellular stores of 5-HT....