3,4-Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE), a novel analogue of MDMA, produces long-lasting depletion of serotonin in the rat brain.
George A. Ricaurte, K F Finnegan, D E Nichols, L E DeLanney, I Irwin, J W Langston
European Journal of Pharmacology June 4, 1987 DOI: 10.1016/0014-2999(87)90233-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | 3 4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE) |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Key points | MDE produced a long-lasting, dose-related depletion of serotonin in rat brain, but did not reduce dopamine or norepinephrine levels on a long-term basis even at high doses. MDE was approximately one fourth as potent as MDMA at causing long-term serotonin depletion, suggesting it may be selectively toxic to central serotonergic neurons. |
Abstract
The present study was carried out to asses possible toxic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE) on serotonergic, dopaminergic or noradrenergic neurons in the rat brain. It was found that MDE produced a long-lasting, dose-related depletion of serotonin (5HT). However, even at high dosage, MDE did not reduce the concentration of either dopamine (DA) or norepinephrine (NE) on a long-term basis. When compared to 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), MDE was approximately one fourth as potent as producing a long-term depletion of 5HT. These results suggest that MDE, like MDMA, may be selectively toxic to central serotonergic neurons.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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- MDMA (ecstasy) effects on cultured serotonergic neurons: evidence for Ca2+-dependent toxicity linked to release Brain Research February 1, 1990
- Beyond ecstasy: Alternative entactogens to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine with potential applications in psychotherapy Journal of Psychopharmacology September 10, 2020
- MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) Analogues as Tools to Characterize MDMA-Like Effects: An Approach to Understand Entactogen Pharmacology Current Neuropharmacology August 1, 2013
- The Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology of 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐N‐ethyl‐amphetamine (MDEA) CNS Drug Reviews June 1, 2004
- History of MDMA Ecstasy: The Clinical, Pharmacological and Neurotoxicological Effects of the Drug MDMA 1990
and 20 more in the library
Cites 3
- Hallucinogenic Amphetamine Selectively Destroys Brain Serotonin Nerve Terminals Science September 6, 1985
- Biochemical and histological evidence that methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) is toxic to neurons in the rat brain. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics April 1, 1987
- The effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) on monoaminergic systems in the rat brain. European Journal of Pharmacology August 22, 1986