Journal of Neurochemistry
February 2009
Elena Puerta, Isabel Hervias, Beatriz Goñi-allo et al.
Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are often used in combination with club drugs such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy). We investigated the consequences of such combination in the serotonergic system of the rat. Oral administration of sildenafil citrate (1.5 or 8 mg/kg) increased brain cGMP levels and protected in a dose-dependent manner against 5-hydroxytryptamine...
European Journal of Pharmacology
May 21, 2007
Beatriz Goñi-allo, Elena Puerta, Isabel Hervias et al.
13 citations
Amiloride and several of its congeners known to block the Na(+)/Ca(2+) and/or Na(+)/H(+) antiporters potentiate methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity without altering methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia. We now examine whether amiloride also exacerbates 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced long-term serotonin (5-HT) loss in rats. Amiloride (2.5 mg/kg, every 2 h x 3, i.p.) given at...
Journal of Neurochemistry
September 1, 2000
Isabel Hervias, Berta Lasheras, Norberto Aguirre
Abstract: Neurotoxicity induced by different substituted amphetamines has been associated with the exhaustion of intracellular energy stores. Accordingly, we examined the influence of 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (2‐DG), a competitive inhibitor of glucose uptake and metabolism, and nicotinamide, an agent that improves energy metabolism, on 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)‐induced...
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
February 2000
Meritxell Barrionuevo, Norberto Aguirre, J D Del Río et al.
The serotonergic deficits induced by 3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine (MDEA, "eve"), were examined and compared with 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy"). A single dose of MDEA (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg IP) induced a dose-related hyperthermia, but only the highest dose significantly reduced 5-HT content and 5-HT transporter density in the frontal cortex and in the hippocampus 7 days...
Neuroreport
November 1, 1999
Norberto Aguirre, Meritxell Barrionuevo, Marı́a J. Ramı́rez et al.
89 citations
A single administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymetham-phetamine (MDMA, 20 mg/kg, i.p.), induced significant hyperthermia in rats and reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) content and [3H]paroxetine-labeled 5-HT transporter density in the frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus by 40–60% 1 week later. MDMA treatment also increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity in the...
European Journal of Pharmacology
July 1, 1995
Norberto Aguirre, J L Galbete, Berta Lasheras et al.
The present study examined the short- and long-term effects of single and repeated administration of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') on somatodendritic and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors of the rat brain. [3H]8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT) was used to label 5-HT1A receptors in the brain stem region containing the dorsal raphe nucleus and in the...