Developmental Psychobiology
July 1, 2014
Brian J. Piper, Christina S. Henderson, Jerrold S. Meyer
2 citations
AbstractIntermittent MDMA pretreatment blocked the reductions in serotonin transporter (SERT) binding induced by an MDMA binge in a prior study in adolescent male rats. The objective of this investigation was to determine if the physiological, behavioral, and neurochemical responses to MDMA are sexually dimorphic. Female Sprague–Dawley rats received MDMA (10 mg/kg × 2) or Saline on every fifth...
Neuropharmacology
December 2011
Erica Y Shen, Syed F Ali, Jerrold S Meyer
Most recreational users of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy") also take cannabis, in part because cannabis can reduce the dysphoric symptoms of the ecstasy come-down such as agitation and insomnia. Although previous animal studies have examined the acute effects of co-administering MDMA and Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the major psychoactive ingredient in...
Current Neuropharmacology
March 1, 2011
Dominik K. Biezonski, Jerrold S. Meyer
51 citations
High doses of the recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") have been well-documented to reduce the expression of serotonergic markers in several forebrain regions of rats and nonhuman primates. Neuroimaging studies further suggest that at least one of these markers, the plasma membrane serotonin transporter (SERT), may also be reduced in heavy Ecstasy users. Such...
Journal of Neurochemistry
November 30, 2009
Dominik K. Biezonski, Jerrold S. Meyer
47 citations
J. Neurochem. (2009) 112 , 951–962. Abstract 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘Ecstasy’) is a popular recreational drug used worldwide. This study aimed to determine the effects of this compound on the expression of nerve terminal serotonergic markers in rats. Experiment 1 investigated MDMA‐induced changes in levels of the serotonin transporter (SERT) and the vesicular monoamine...
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
October 1, 2008
Jerrold S. Meyer, Brian J. Piper, Valerie E. Vancollie
44 citations
Adult animals treated with high doses of MDMA (“ecstasy”) either on a single day or for several consecutive days show numerous behavioral changes as well as persistent reductions in brain serotonin (5‐HT) concentrations and 5‐HT transporter (SERT) protein expression. However, such dosing regimens do not adequately mimic the intermittent use patterns commonly seen in adolescent recreational...
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
April 2008
Brian J Piper, Joseph B Fraiman, Cullen B Owens et al.
High or repeated doses of the recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or 'Ecstasy') produce long-lasting deficits in several markers of serotonin (5-HT) system integrity and also alter behavioral function. However, it is not yet clear whether MDMA-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity is responsible for these behavioral changes or whether other mechanisms are involved. The...
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
August 1, 2006
Jerrold S. Meyer, Matthew E. Brevard, Brian J. Piper et al.
40 citations
Abstract: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the acute effects of a recreational dose (1 mg/kg p.o.) of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on regional brain activity in awake, restrained marmoset monkeys. In a second study, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and postmortem measurements of serotonin transporter (SERT) binding and serotonin (5‐HT)...
Developmental Psychobiology
2005
Brian J. Piper, Joseph B. Fraiman, Jerrold S. Meyer
71 citations
Previous research in our laboratory found that repeated exposure of adolescent rats to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) impaired working memory and reduced anxiety. The present experiment extended these findings by investigating the physiological, behavioral, and neurotoxic effects of a modified MDMA treatment regimen. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received 5 mg/kg of MDMA hourly for a...
International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience
June 5, 2004
Jerrold S. Meyer, Mark Grande, Kenneth M. Johnson et al.
50 citations
Abstract 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine damages fine serotonergic fibers and nerve terminals in adult organisms. Developing animals seem to be less susceptible to this effect, possibly due to a lack of drug‐induced hyperthermia. We tested this hypothesis by producing hyperthermia in neonatal rats for 2 h after each of twice‐daily MDMA (10 mg/kg s.c.) or saline injections administered from...
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
June 1, 2002
Jerrold S. Meyer, Syed F. Ali
25 citations
A bstract : The abused drug 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) damages fine serotonergic fibers and nerve terminals in adult organisms; however, developing animals seem less susceptible to this effect. One proposed hypothesis is that neonates are less sensitive to MDMA neurotoxicity because they fail to show drug‐induced hyperthermia. We tested this hypothesis by producing hyperthermia in...