Attenuation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) induced neurotoxicity with the serotonin precursors tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan.
J E Sprague, X Huang, A Kanthasamy, D E Nichols
Life Sciences 1994 DOI: 10.1016/0024-3205(94)00658-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | Tryptophan MDMA |
| Dose | Tryptophan 400 mg/kg; 5-hydroxytryptophan 50 mg/kg; MDMA 20 mg/kg |
| Measures | [3H]-paroxetine binding |
| Topics | Serotonin MDMA |
| Keywords | Nerve endings Animals Rats, sprague-dawley Brain diseases N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine 5-hydroxytryptophan Male |
| Key findings | Tryptophan (400 mg/kg) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (50 mg/kg) attenuated MDMA-induced (20 mg/kg) serotonergic neurotoxicity in rats, as shown by [3H]-paroxetine binding in the striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex and by hippocampal serotonin and 5-HIAA levels. The authors suggest that depletion of serotonin stores is important for MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. |
Abstract
Treatment of rats with serotonin (5-HT) precursors tryptophan (TRP, 400 mg/kg) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP, 50 mg/kg) was shown to attenuate MDMA (20 mg/kg) induced serotonergic neurotoxicity as measured by [3H]-paroxetine binding in the striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex of the rat brain. Hippocampal 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels were also indicative of the protective effects of TRP and 5-HTP. These results suggest that depletion of 5-HT stores is important for MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. The possible significance of this 5-HT depletion in MDMA-induced serotonergic terminal degeneration is also discussed.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 12
- Cerebral1H MRS alterations in recreational 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ?ecstasy?) users Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging October 1, 1999
- Agony and ecstasy: a review of MDMA effects and toxicity European Psychiatry August 1, 2000
- The abused drug MDMA (Ecstasy) induces programmed death of human serotonergic cells The FASEB Journal February 1, 1997
- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy'): Neurodegeneration versus Neuromodulation Pharmaceuticals July 5, 2011
- Mediating MDMA-related harm: preloading and post-loading among Ecstasy-using youth. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs March 2009
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Cites 9
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- Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1987
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine destroy serotonin terminals in rat brain: quantification of neurodegeneration by measurement of [3H]paroxetine-labeled serotonin uptake sites. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics September 1, 1987
- (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Selectively Damages Central Serotonergic Neurons in Nonhuman Primates JAMA July 1, 1988
- Derivatives of 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine: representatives of a novel therapeutic class Journal of Medicinal Chemistry October 1, 1986
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