Psychopharmacology
December 2014
Claudine C Hunault, Koen B E Böcker, R K Stellato et al.
An increase in the potency of the cannabis cigarettes has been observed over the past three decades. In this study, we aimed to establish the impact of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the rating of subjective effects (intensity and duration of the effects), up to 23 % THC potency (69 mg THC) among recreational users. Recreational users (N = 24) smoked cannabis cigarettes with four doses of THC...
Neurotoxicology
March 2013
Laura Hondebrink, Sijie Tan, Elise Hermans et al.
Yearly, exposure to drugs of abuse results in ∼1 million emergency department visits in the US. In ∼50% of the visits, stimulant drugs like cocaine and amphetamine-like substances (e.g. 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, the main active ingredient of ecstasy)) are involved, whereas in ∼60% multiple drugs are involved. These drugs induce higher dopamine and serotonin levels resulting in...
Critical Reviews in Toxicology
October 3, 2012
Saskia J. Rietjens, Laura Hondebrink, Remco H S Westerink et al.
51 citations
Clinical outcome following 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) intake ranges from mild entactogenic effects to a life-threatening intoxication. Despite ongoing research, the clinically most relevant mechanisms causing acute MDMA-induced adverse effects remain largely unclear. This complicates the triage and treatment of MDMA users needing medical care. The user's genetic profile and...
Neurotoxicology
March 2012
Laura Hondebrink, Jan Meulenbelt, Saskia J. Rietjens et al.
Reversal of the dopamine (DA) membrane transporter is the main mechanism through which many drugs of abuse increase DA levels. However, drug-induced modulation of exocytotic DA release by electrical (depolarization) and neurochemical inputs (e.g., acetylcholine (ACh)) may also contribute. We therefore investigated effects of methamphetamine, amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine...
Neurotoxicology
December 2011
Laura Hondebrink, Jan Meulenbelt, Regina G D M Van Kleef et al.
Drugs of abuse are known to mainly affect the dopaminergic and serotonergic system, although behavioral studies indicated that the GABA-ergic system also plays a role. We therefore investigated the acute effects of several commonly used drugs of abuse (methamphetamine, amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and meta-chlorophenylpiperazine...
Toxicology
November 18, 2011
Irene Antolino-Lobo, Jan Meulenbelt, Jeffrey Molendijk et al.
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) metabolism is a major cause of MDMA-mediated hepatotoxicity. In this study the effects of MDMA and its metabolites on the glutathione system were evaluated. Glutathione (GSH/GSSG) levels and gene expression of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) were compared in the...
Neuropharmacology
2011
Laura Hondebrink, Jan Meulenbelt, Marieke Meijer et al.
The popular synthetic drug of abuse 3,4-methylenedioxymethampetamine (MDMA) and its metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) act mainly on the serotonergic system, though they also increase the amount of extracellular dopamine (DA) in the brain, presumably via reversal of the membrane dopamine transporter (DAT). As the involvement of exocytotic DA release is debated, we investigated if...
Drug Metabolism and Disposition
July 2010
Irene Antolino-Lobo, Jan Meulenbelt, Sandra M Nijmeijer et al.
Metabolism plays an important role in the toxic effects caused by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Most research has focused on the involvement of CYP2D6 enzyme in MDMA bioactivation, and less is known about the contribution of other cytochrome P450 (P450) and phase II metabolism. In this study, we researched the differential roles of phase I P450 enzymes CYP1A2, CYP3A4, and CYP2D6 and...