Anatomic evidence for a neurotoxic effect of (+/-)-fenfluramine upon serotonergic projections in the rat.
Immunocytochemistry was used to determine whether (+/-)-fenfluramine causes structural damage to serotonergic (5-HT) neurons. Sections from rat forebrain were examined 4 h, 36 h and 2 weeks after various dose regimens of fenfluramine. At all time points there was a reduction of fine 5-HT axon terminals in the forebrain, while beaded axons were spared. The presence of markedly swollen, fragmented 5-HT axons 36 h after injection is indicative of axonal degeneration, and provides morphologic evidence for a neurotoxic effect of (+/-)-fenfluramine upon 5-HT axon terminals.
Molliver
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Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Baltimore, MD 21205.
Molliver
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D000818:Animals; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000633:toxicity*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D009498:Neurotoxins; D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin