International Journal of Molecular Sciences
March 12, 2019
Stefania Schiavone, Margherita Neri, Angela Bruna Maffione et al.
22 citations
Several mechanisms underlying 3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) neurotoxicity have been proposed, including neurochemical alterations and excitotoxicity mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). However, ROS, NO, and RNS sources in the brain are not fully known. We aimed to investigate possible alterations in the expression of...
Neuropharmacology
October 1, 2018
Andrea Ossato, Sabrine Bilel, Adolfo Gregori et al.
Novel psychoactive substances are intoxicating compounds developed to mimic the effects of well-established drugs of abuse. They are not controlled by the United Nations drug convention and pose serious health concerns worldwide. Among them, the dissociative drug methoxetamine (MXE) is structurally similar to ketamine (KET) and phencyclidine (PCP) and was created to purposely mimic the...
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
August 2010
Margherita Neri, Stefania Bello, Alessandro Bonsignore et al.
Indirect effects of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) and metabolites on the cardiac cells are well-known, the mechanism(s) underlying direct MDMA-induced cardiotoxicity remaining to be clarified. To better understand the immuno-inflammatory phenomena accompanying the cardiac alterations during MDMA administration, we conducted a study in an in vivo animal model to evaluate the...
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
June 27, 2010
Emanuela Turillazzi, Irene Riezzo, Margherita Neri et al.
43 citations
Studies conducted in humans or in animals explored the presence, nature and potential causes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) toxicity. According to literature, there are four principal types of such serious toxicity: hepatic, cardiovascular, cerebral and hyperpyrexic. The molecular mechanisms involved in the genesis of these toxic effects are not yet fully clarified, but the...
Journal of Neuroscience Research
October 1, 2009
Irene Riezzo, Daniela Cerretani, Carmela Fiore et al.
47 citations
Abstract 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)‐induced neurotoxicity leads to the formation of quinone metabolities and hydroxyl radicals and then to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We evaluated the effect of a single dose of MDMA (20 mg/kg, i.p.) on the enzymatic and nonenzymatic cellular antioxidant defense system in different areas of rat brain in the early hours (<6 hr)...
International Journal of Legal Medicine
November 2008
Daniela Cerretani, Irene Riezzo, Anna Ida Fiaschi et al.
Experimental and clinical data indicate that 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) abuse can produce significant cardiovascular toxicity. A mechanism may be a direct toxic effect of redox active metabolites of MDMA. To evaluate the effect of a single MDMA dose on cellular antioxidant defence system and to investigate the morphology in male albino rats, total glutathione (GSH), oxidised...