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...
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...