Assessment of the role of alpha-methylepinine in the neurotoxicity of MDMA.
To assess the potential involvement of metabolism of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to the catechol alpha-methylepinine in producing serotonergic neurotoxicity, we attempted to correlate aspects of this reaction with the neurotoxicity profile of MDMA. In contrast to the stereoselectivity of S-(+)-MDMA in causing persistent declines in rat brain 5-hydroxyindole levels, no stereochemical component to the metabolic reaction was apparent. Rat liver microsomes generated a significantly greater amount of alpha-methylepinine than did mouse microsomes, but similar amounts of metabolite were produced by brain microsomes from the two species. Formation of alpha-methylepinine by hepatic, but not brain, microsomes was inhibited by SKF 525A and induced by phenobarbital, possibly indicating a tissue specificity in cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of MDMA. To directly assess whether alpha-methylepine is a likely mediator of MDMA neurotoxicity, the compound was administered intracerebroventricularly. No persistent declines in biogenic amines or their metabolites were observed one week following treatment. These data suggest that alpha-methylepinine alone is not responsible for the neurotoxic effects of MDMA.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
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Steele
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Brewster
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Johnson
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Nichols
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D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D003846:Deoxyepinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004563:Electrochemistry; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D011335:Proadifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity
D001679:Biogenic Amines; C069512:alpha-methylepinine; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D011335:Proadifen; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D003846:Deoxyepinephrine; D010634:Phenobarbital