Orally administered MDMA causes a long-term depletion of serotonin in rat brain.
K T Finnegan, George A. Ricaurte, L D Ritchie, I Irwin, Stephen J. Peroutka, J W Langston
Brain Research April 26, 1988 DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(88)90974-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Key points | Orally administered MDMA produced a dose-related depletion of serotonin in rats comparable to that produced by subcutaneous administration. The authors suggest that orally taken MDMA retains its neurotoxic activity and that humans using MDMA may be at risk for a persistent depletion of brain serotonin. |
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), when administered subcutaneously, is toxic to central serotonergic neurons in rats. Because humans typically self-administer this drug orally, we compared this route to the s.c. route of administration. Orally administered MDMA produced a dose-related depletion of serotonin comparable to that produced by the s.c. route. These findings suggest that MDMA, when given orally, retains it neurotoxic activity and that humans using MDMA may be at risk for developing a persistent depletion of brain serotonin.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 19
- (±)3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (‘Ecstasy’)-Induced Serotonin Neurotoxicity: Studies in Animals Neuropsychobiology 2000
- Amphetamine toxicities Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences January 8, 2010
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) neurotoxicity in rats: a reappraisal of past and present findings Psychopharmacology March 15, 2006
- RETRACTED: Severe Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity in Primates After a Common Recreational Dose Regimen of MDMA ("Ecstasy") Science September 27, 2002
- Biochemical effects of the monoamine neurotoxins DSP-4 and MDMA in specific brain regions of MAO-B-deficient mice Synapse 2001
and 14 more in the library
Cites 4
- Hallucinogenic Amphetamine Selectively Destroys Brain Serotonin Nerve Terminals Science September 6, 1985
- 3,4-Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE), a novel analogue of MDMA, produces long-lasting depletion of serotonin in the rat brain. European Journal of Pharmacology June 4, 1987
- Biochemical and histological evidence that methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) is toxic to neurons in the rat brain. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics April 1, 1987
- A comparison of the neurotoxic potential of methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and its N-methylated and N-ethylated derivatives. European Journal of Pharmacology February 10, 1987