Journal of Psychopharmacology
July 8, 2010
Procedural and declarative memory task performance, and the memory consolidation function of sleep, in recent and abstinent ecstasy/MDMA users.
Addiction Biology
July 2010
Francesco Angelucci, Valerio Ricci, Giovanni Martinotti et al.
The recreational drug 'ecstasy'[3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)] exerts a potent action on central serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons. These neurons utilize neurotrophins for their survival and function. In order to explore MDMA effects on neurotrophins, we measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth...
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
June 27, 2010
Emanuela Turillazzi, Irene Riezzo, Margherita Neri et al.
43 citations
Studies conducted in humans or in animals explored the presence, nature and potential causes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) toxicity. According to literature, there are four principal types of such serious toxicity: hepatic, cardiovascular, cerebral and hyperpyrexic. The molecular mechanisms involved in the genesis of these toxic effects are not yet fully clarified, but the...
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
June 27, 2010
Byoung‐joon Song, Kwan–hoon Moon, Vijay Upreti et al.
73 citations
Despite numerous reports about the acute and sub-chronic toxicities caused by MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy), the underlying mechanism of organ damage is poorly understood. The aim of this review is to present an update of the mechanistic studies on MDMA-mediated organ damage partly caused by increased oxidative/nitrosative stress. Because of the extensive reviews on...
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
June 27, 2010
Sumit Sarkar, Larry Schmued
63 citations
"Ecstasy" (MDMA) is a powerful hallucinogenic drug which has raised concern worldwide because of its high abuse liability. A plethora of studies have demonstrated that MDMA has the potential to induce neurotoxicity both in human and laboratory animals. Although research on MDMA has been carried out by many different laboratories, the mechanism underlying MDMA induced toxicity has not been fully...
Toxicology in Vitro
June 2010
Rokhsareh Meamar, Fereshteh Karamali, Hamid Mirmohamad Sadeghi et al.
"Ecstasy" or methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is primarily a recreational drug commonly used during the child bearing period, thus, there is a major concern regarding the embryonic and fetal toxicity of this drug. Here, we report the cardio- and neuro-toxic effects of MDMA on beating embryoid bodies (EBs) and neural cell-containing EBs derived from mouse embryonic stem cell (ESCs). Based on...
Synapse
June 1, 2010
Repeated intermittent methylenedioxymethamphetamine exposure protects against the behavioral and neurotoxic, but not hyperthermic, effects of an MDMA binge in adult rats.
British Journal of Pharmacology
May 27, 2010
Noreen T. Boyle, Thomas J. Connor
42 citations
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') is a ring-substituted amphetamine and a popular drug of abuse. In addition to ability to induce euphoria, MDMA abuse is associated with a range of acute and long-term hazardous effects. This paper is focused on once such adverse effect: its ability to negatively impact on functioning of the immune system. Research demonstrates that MDMA has...
British Journal of Pharmacology
May 24, 2010
Natacha Vanattou‐saïfoudine, Ruth Mcnamara, Andrew Harkin
39 citations
Background and purpose: Caffeine exacerbates the hyperthermia associated with an acute exposure to 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’) in rats. The present study investigated the mechanisms mediating this interaction. Experimental approach: Adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were treated with caffeine (10 mg·kg −1 ; i.p.) and MDMA (15 mg·kg −1 ; i.p.) alone and in combination. Core...
Human & Experimental Toxicology
May 20, 2010
Pinchas Halpern, Jenny Moskovich, Beni Avrahami et al.
54 citations
Methods: We conducted a prospective, representative-sample nationwide study on morbidity related to 3,4, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘ecstasy’) as determined from admissions to 5 geographically representative emergency departments (EDs) and from data from the poison information center (PIC). MDMArelated ED admissions were analyzed over a 7-month period and the records of all PIC calls...