The reduction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in rat brain 3 h after administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was attenuated significantly by coadministration of benzylpiperazine derivatives (p-nitrobenzylpiperazine, p-chlorobenzylpiperazine and 1-piperonylpiperazine), which were weak inhibitors of [3H]5-HT uptake into rat brain synaptosomes. However, the coadministration of...
1. The present study has investigated whether the neurotoxic effects of the relatively selective 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurotoxins, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'Ecstasy'), p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) and fenfluramine on hippocampal and cortical 5-HT terminals in rat brain could be prevented by administration of either chlormethiazole or dizocilpine. 2. Administration of MDMA...
Several reports have speculated that the tryptamine-derived drug alpha-ethyltryptamine (AET) may have effects similar to those of the amphetamine-derived drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Indeed, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has recently placed AET on the Schedule I list because of its putative similarity to MDMA. The Behavioral Pattern Monitor, which quantifies locomotor...
The neurotoxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in rat brain was attenuated significantly by coadministration of several benzylpiperazines (p-nitrobenzylpiperazine, p-chlorobenzylpiperazine and 1-piperonylpiperazine), which were weak inhibitors for [3H]6-nitroquipazine binding to the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter in rat brain. These results suggest that these...
The effects of 1-piperonylpiperazine and N,alpha-dimethylpiperonylamine, which are weak inhibitors for [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake, on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced neurotoxicity were examined. The reductions of serotonergic parameters in the rat cerebral cortex produced by multiple administration of MDMA (10 mg/kg) were attenuated significantly by coadministration...
Alcohol preference and manifestation of alcoholism are thought by many to be associated with serotonin (5-HT) dysfunction in the brain. Thus, experiments were performed to determine the effect of acute and subchronic administration of (+/-) 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), an amphetamine analog that stimulates 5-HT release, on alcohol preference in two strains of alcohol-preferring...
The abilities of the substituted amphetamines 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine, p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) and fenfluramine to induce synaptosomal [3H]serotonin (5-HT) release were compared using a novel microassay system. The rank order of release potencies was found to be (+/-)PCA congruent to (+)-fenfluramine greater than (+)-MDMA much greater than...
The effect of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) uptake inhibitors on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced increase in DA efflux was studied using in vivo microdialysis. MDMA was infused directly into the anterolateral striatum via the dialysis probe. The local administration of MDMA produced a dose- and time-dependent increase in the extracellular concentration of DA in the...
Two persons are described who demonstrated prolonged neuropsychiatric syndromes after the ingestion of large doses of (+-)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a recreationally used amphetamine analog. These cases suggest that MDMA, known to be neurotoxic to serotonin neurons in several experimental animals, may also produce untoward effects in humans. In addition, they provide evidence...
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") is a potent neurotoxin which preferentially produces 5-HT nerve terminal degeneration in the CNS in both rodents and primates. Timely research on the behavioral effects of acute and long term treatment of MDMA is critical due to the neuropathological effects of MDMA and its abuse liability. Presently, there are no published reports that have...