title: Selective 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptor antagonists protect against the neurotoxicity of methylenedioxymethamphetamine in rats.
abstract: The serotonergic deficits resulting from methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced neurotoxicity were prevented by the simultaneous administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine2 (5-HT2) receptor antagonists such as MDL 11,939 or ritanserin. This effect was not region specific as protection was observed in the cortex, hippocampus and striatum 1 week after the administration of a single dose of MDMA. MDL 11,939 also showed some efficacy at reducing the deficits in 5-HT concentrations and tryptophan hydroxylase activity produced by multiple administrations of MDMA. Protection against the neurotoxicity required the administration of MDL 11,939 within 1 hr of MDMA indicating 5-HT2 receptor activation was an early event in the process leading to terminal damage. Examination of the effect of the 5-HT2 receptor blockade on the early neurochemical alterations induced by MDMA revealed an inhibitory effect on MDMA-stimulated dopamine synthesis. Analysis of these data and the associated changes in dopamine metabolites indicates that 5-HT2 receptor antagonists block MDMA-induced neurotoxicity by interfering with the ability of the dopamine neuron to maintain its cytoplasmic pool of transmitter and thereby sustain carrier-mediated dopamine release.
authors.affiliation: Merrell Dow Research Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D000661:Amphetamine; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine