Toxic effects of MDMA on central serotonergic neurons in the primate: importance of route and frequency of drug administration.
George A. Ricaurte, L. Delanney, I. Irwin, J. Langston
Brain Research April 12, 1988 DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(88)91309-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Comparative experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Non-human primates (monkeys) |
| Interventions | 3 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) |
| Dose | 5 mg/kg |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Key findings | Oral MDMA was roughly half as effective as subcutaneous MDMA at depleting brain serotonin in monkeys, and multiple doses were more effective than a single dose, though a single 5 mg/kg oral dose still caused long-lasting serotonin depletion. The authors argue these results indicate that MDMA given in a manner similar to human use is toxic to central serotonergic neurons, suggesting possible risk of such damage in humans who use MDMA. |
Abstract
This study compared the toxic effects of oral versus subcutaneous and single versus multiple doses of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on central serotonergic neurons in non-human primates. Orally administered MDMA was approximately one-half as effective as subcutaneously administered drug. Multiple doses were more effective than single doses, but a single 5 mg/kg dose of MDMA given orally still produced a long-lasting depletion of serotonin in the monkey brain. These results indicate that when MDMA is given to monkeys in a manner similar to that employed by humans, it exerts toxic effects on central serotonergic neurons. This suggests that humans using MDMA may be at risk for incurring central serotonergic neuronal damage.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 90
- Positron emission tomographic evidence of toxic effect of MDMA (“Ecstasy”) on brain serotonin neurons in human beings The Lancet October 1, 1998
- Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug British Journal of Addiction August 1, 1992
- Altered Serotonin Innervation Patterns in the Forebrain of Monkeys Treated with (±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Seven Years Previously: Factors Influencing Abnormal Recovery Journal of Neuroscience June 15, 1999
- 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”): pharmacology and toxicology in animals and humans Addiction May 1, 1994
- (±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘Ecstasy’)-Induced Serotonin Neurotoxicity: Studies in Animals Neuropsychobiology 2000
and 85 more in the library
Cites 4
- Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1987
- Hallucinogenic Amphetamine Selectively Destroys Brain Serotonin Nerve Terminals Science September 6, 1985
- (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Selectively Damages Central Serotonergic Neurons in Nonhuman Primates JAMA July 1, 1988
- Biochemical and histological evidence that methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) is toxic to neurons in the rat brain. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics April 1, 1987