Brain serotonin transporter binding in former users of MDMA (‘ecstasy’)
Sudhakar Selvaraj, Rosa Hoshi, Zubin Bhagwagar, Naga Venkatesha Murthy, Rainer Hinz, Philip J. Cowen, Valerie H. Curran, Paul M. Grasby
The British Journal of Psychiatry March 31, 2009 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.050344 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Former MDMA users, polydrug users who never took MDMA, and controls with no illicit drug history |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | Serotonin transporter Neurotoxicity Methylenedioxy Pharmacology |
| Citations | 59 |
| Key findings | No significant difference in serotonin transporter binding potential was found between former MDMA users, polydrug users, and controls. |
Abstract
Background: Animal experimental studies have prompted concerns that widespread use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) by young people may pose a major public health problem in terms of persistent serotonin neurotoxicity.
Aims: To determine the status of brain serotonin neurons in a group of abstinent MDMA users.
Method: We assessed the integrity of brain serotonin neurons by measuring serotonin transporter (SERT) binding using positron emission tomography (PET) and [ 11 C]DASB in 12 former MDMA users, 9 polydrug users who had never taken MDMA and 19 controls who reported no history of illicit drug use.
Results: There was no significant difference in the binding potential of [ 11 C]DASB between the groups in any of the brain regions examined.
Conclusions: To the extent that [ 11 C]DASB binding provides an index of the integrity of serotonin neurons, our findings suggest that MDMA use may not result in long-term damage to serotonin neurons when used recreationally in humans.