Neurobiology of Disease
March 22, 2021
Noelia Granado, Sara Ares-Santos, Idaira Oliva et al.
117 citations
Methamphetamine (METH) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), amphetamine derivatives widely used as recreational drugs, induce similar neurotoxic effects in mice, including a marked loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) in the striatum. Although the role of dopamine in these neurotoxic effects is well established and pharmacological studies suggest involvement...
Journal of Neurochemistry
January 12, 2010
Elisa Torres, María Dolores Gutiérrez‐lópez, Érika Borcel et al.
44 citations
J. Neurochem. (2010) 10.1111/j.1471‐4159.2010.06578.x Abstract 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) produces selective long‐lasting serotonergic neurotoxicity in rats. The drug also produces acute hyperthermia which modulates the severity of the neurotoxic response. In addition, MDMA produces signs of neuroinflammation reflected as microglial activation and an increase in the...
Journal of Neurochemistry
September 24, 2008
Noelia Granado, Esther O’shea, Jordi Bové et al.
112 citations
Abstract Acute administration of repeated doses of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) dramatically reduces striatal dopamine (DA) content, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and DA transporter‐immunoreactivity in mice. In this study, we show for the first time the spatiotemporal pattern of dopaminergic damage and related molecular events produced by MDMA administration in mice. Our...
Synapse
October 25, 2007
Noelia Granado, Isabel Escobedo, Esther O’shea et al.
59 citations
Abstract The amphetamine analogue 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or “Ecstasy”) is a popular drug of abuse which causes different neurotoxic effects in the mouse compared with the rat. In mice, MDMA produces damage to striatal dopamine terminals, having little long‐term effects on serotonin (5‐HT) containing neurons. A relevant feature of the striatum is its striosome/matrix...
Handbook of Contemporary Neuropharmacology
March 2, 2007
M. Isabel Colado, Esther O'Shea, A. Richard Green
AbstractThe use of the club drugs 3, 4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”), gamma‐hydroxybutyrate (GHB), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), ketamine and LSD is a popular practice among young people especially during all‐night dance parties or “raves“ due to their ability to enhance social experiences and/or alter perception. These substances belong to different classes of drugs: MDMA is an...
British Journal of Pharmacology
June 12, 2006
Esther O’shea, Laura Orío, Isabel Escobedo et al.
57 citations
3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) decreases the 5‐HT concentration, [ 3 H]‐paroxetine binding and tryptophan hydroxylase activity in rat forebrain, which has been interpreted as indicating 5‐HT neurodegeneration. This has been questioned, particularly the 5‐HT loss, as MDMA can also inhibit tryptophan hydroxylase. We have now evaluated the validity of these parameters as a...
British Journal of Pharmacology
July 4, 2005
Alfred Richard Green, Esther O’shea, Kathryn S. Saadat et al.
70 citations
3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) administration to rats produces hyperthermia if they are housed in normal or warm ambient room temperature ( T a ) conditions (20°C), but hypothermia when in cool conditions ( T a 17°C). We have now investigated some of the mechanisms involved. MDMA (5 mg kg −1 i.p.) produced a rapid decrease in rectal temperature in rats at T a 15°C. This...
British Journal of Pharmacology
2005
Isabel Escobedo, Esther O’shea, Laura Orío et al.
68 citations
This study investigated whether the immediate and long‐term effects of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on monoamines in mouse brain are due to the parent compound and the possible contribution of a major reactive metabolite, 3,4‐dihydroxymethamphetamine (HHMA), to these changes. The acute effect of each compound on rectal temperature was also determined. MDMA given i.p. (30 mg kg −1 ,...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
September 1, 2004
Verónica Sánchez, Esther O’shea, Kathryn S. Saadat et al.
66 citations
The technique of ‘binge’ dosing (several doses in one session) by recreational users of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) requires evaluation in terms of its consequences on the acute hyperthermic response and long-term neurotoxicity. We examined the neurotoxic effects of this dosing schedule on 5-HT and dopamineneurones in the rat brain. When repeated (three) doses of MDMA (2,...
British Journal of Pharmacology
2002
Annis O. Mechan, B. Moreno Esteban, Esther O’shea et al.
219 citations
The pharmacology of the acute hyperthermia that follows 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) administration to rats has been investigated. MDMA (12.5 mg kg −1 i.p.) produced acute hyperthermia (measured rectally). The tail skin temperature did not increase, suggesting that MDMA may impair heat dissipation. Pretreatment with the 5‐HT 1/2 antagonist methysergide (10 mg kg −1 ), the...
British Journal of Pharmacology
December 1, 2001
María Isabel Colado, Jorge Camarero, Annis O. Mechan et al.
122 citations
Administration of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) to mice produces acute hyperthermia and long‐term degeneration of striatal dopamine nerve terminals. Attenuation of the hyperthermia decreases the neurodegeneration. We have investigated the mechanisms involved in producing the neurotoxic loss of striatal dopamine. MDMA produced a dose‐dependent loss in striatal dopamine...
British Journal of Pharmacology
September 1, 2001
Violeta Sánchez Sánchez, Jorge Camarero, B. Moreno Esteban et al.
103 citations
It has been reported that co‐administration of fluoxetine with 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) prevents MDMA‐induced degeneration of 5‐HT nerve endings in rat brain. The mechanisms involved have now been investigated. MDMA (15 mg kg −1 , i.p.) administration produced a neurotoxic loss of 5‐HT and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA) in cortex, hippocampus and striatum and a...
Pharmacology & Toxicology
June 1, 1999
María Isabel Colado, Raquel Ena María Granados, Esther O’shea et al.
26 citations
Abstract: Administration of a single dose of the recreationally used drug 3, 4‐methylenedioxyethamphetamine (MDEA or “eve”) to Dark Agouti rats resulted in an acute dose‐dependent hyperthermic response. The peak effect and duration of hyperthermia of a dose of MDEA of 35 mg/kg intraperitoneally was similar to a dose of 3, 4‐methylenedioxymetham‐phetamine (MDMA or “ecstasy”) of 15 mg/kg...
British Journal of Pharmacology
February 1, 1999
María Isabel Colado, Esther O’shea, R Granados et al.
82 citations
We investigated whether dopamine plays a role in the neurodegeneration of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) nerve endings occurring in Dark Agouti rat brain after 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) administration. Haloperidol (2 mg kg −1 i.p.) injected 5 min prior and 55 min post MDMA (15 mg kg −1 i.p.) abolished the acute MDMA‐induced hyperthermia and attenuated the neurotoxic loss...
British Journal of Pharmacology
June 1, 1998
María Isabel Colado, R Granados, Esther O’shea et al.
80 citations
The immediate effect of administration of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) on rectal temperature and the effect of putative neuroprotective agents on this change has been examined in rats. The influence of the temperature changes on the long term MDMA‐induced neurodegeneration of cerebral 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) nerve terminals was also examined. The novel low affinity...
British Journal of Pharmacology
July 1, 1997
María Isabel Colado, Esther O’shea, R Granados et al.
175 citations
Administration of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) to several species results in a long lasting neurotoxic degeneration of 5‐hydroxytryptaminergic neurones in several regions of the brain. We have now investigated whether this degeneration is likely to be the result of free radical‐induced damage. Free radical formation can be assessed by measuring the formation of 2,3‐ and...
British Journal of Pharmacology
June 1, 1997
María Isabel Colado, Esther O’shea, R Granados et al.
176 citations
It is well established that 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) is neurotoxic and produces long term degeneration of cerebral 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) nerve terminals in many species. Since MDMA is used extensively as a recreational drug by young people, it is being ingested by many women of child bearing age. We have therefore examined the effect of administering high doses...
British Journal of Pharmacology
August 1, 1995
María Isabel Colado, Jodi L. Williams, A.r. Green
165 citations
1. The effect of administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'Ecstasy') and its N-demethylated product, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) on both rectal temperature and long term neurotoxic loss of cerebral 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has been studied in male and female Dark Agouti (DA) rats. The female metabolizes debrisoquine more slowly than the male and its use has been...
British Journal of Pharmacology
1994
María Isabel Colado, A.r. Green
62 citations
1. An investigation has been made in rats into the neurotoxic effect of the relatively selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurotoxin, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'Ecstasy') using chlormethiazole and dizocilpine, both known neuroprotective compounds and also gamma-butyrolactone, ondansetron and pentobarbitone. 2. Administration of MDMA (20 mg kg-1, i.p.) resulted in a 50% loss...
British Journal of Pharmacology
March 1, 1993
María Isabel Colado, Tracey K. Murray, A.r. Green
133 citations
1. The present study has investigated whether the neurotoxic effects of the relatively selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurotoxins, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'Ecstasy'), p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) and fenfluramine on hippocampal and cortical 5-HT terminals in rat brain could be prevented by administration of either chlormethiazole or dizocilpine. 2. Administration of MDMA...