title: Differences between rats and mice in MDMA (methylenedioxymethylamphetamine) neurotoxicity.
abstract: In both rats and mice a single large dose of methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA; 25 mg/kg i.p.) caused a fall 3 h after injection in the content of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in cortex, a fall in noradrenaline in hippocampus and cerebellum, and a rise in dopamine (DA) but fall in dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in striatum. These effects were transient, levels being essentially back to normal by 24 h after injection. Repeated large doses (3 x 25 mg/kg in 24 h) of MDMA caused a large long-lasting fall in the content of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in cortex in rats but had only a slight effect in mice. Increasing the dose to 3 x 50 mg/kg in mice produced a large long-lasting fall in striatal DA. The analogue MDEA(3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine) caused a similar slight fall in 5-HT but in contrast to MDMA caused a slight rise in DA content in mice. The nature and degree of neurotoxicity with methylenedioxyamphetamines appears to be drug and species-specific.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laverty
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yee
mesh_terms: D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; C051800:3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine; C010117:3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine