Reserpine does not prevent 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity in the rat.
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'Ecstasy') is a known neurotoxin to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) nerve terminals. Recent studies have suggested that endogenous dopamine (DA) and/or 5-HT may mediate the MDMA-induced neurotoxicity. The central monoamine stores of rats were significantly decreased with reserpine (5 mg/kg) prior to toxic injections of MDMA. Rats given MDMA (30 mg/kg) displayed significant decreases in the density of 5-HT nerve terminals labeled by [3H]paroxetine both with (51 +/- 8%) and without (43 +/- 20%) reserpine pre-treatment. These data suggest that the degeneration of 5-HT nerve terminals following MDMA is independent of the presence of endogenous stores of DA or 5-HT.
Hekmatpanah
C R
CR
Department of Neurology, Stanford University Medical School, CA 94305.
McKenna
D J
DJ
Peroutka
S J
SJ
D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000633:toxicity*; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000633:toxicity*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D017374:Paroxetine; D010880:Piperidines / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
D000662:Amphetamines; D015198:Designer Drugs; D010880:Piperidines; D012701:Serotonin; D017374:Paroxetine; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D012110:Reserpine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine