[Investigations on the effect of "ecstasy" on cerebral glucose metabolism: an 18-FDG PET study].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine the acute effects of the "Ecstasy" analogue MDE (3, 4-methylendioxyethamphetamine) on the cerebral glucose metabolism (rMRGlu) of healthy volunteers.


METHODS
In a randomised double-blind trial, 16 healthy volunteers without a history of drug abuse were examined with 18-FDG PET 110-120 minutes after oral administration of 2 mg/kg MDE (n = 8) or placebo (n = 8). Beginning two minutes prior to radiotracer injection, a constant cognitive stimulation was maintained for 32 minutes using a word repetition paradigm in order to ensure constant and comparable mental conditions during cerebral 18-FDG uptake. Individual brain anatomy was represented using T1-weighted 3D flash MRI, followed by manual regionalisation into 108 regions-of-interest and PFT/MRI overlay. Absolute quantification of rMRGlu and comparison of glucose metabolism under MDE versus placebo were performed using Mann-Whitney U-test.


RESULTS
Absolute global MRGlu was not significantly changed under MDE versus placebo (MDE: 41.8 +/- 11.1 mumol/min/100 g, placebo: 50.1 +/- 18.1 mumol/min/100 g, p = 0.298). The normalised regional metabolic data showed a significantly decreased rMRGlu in the bilateral frontal cortex: left frontal posterior (-7.1%, p < 0.05) and right prefrontal superior (-4.6%, p < 0.05). On the other hand, rMRGlu was significantly increased in the bilateral cerebellum (right: +10.1%, p < 0.05; left +7.6%, p < 0.05) and in the right putamen (+6.2%, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study revealed acute neurometabolic changes under the "Ecstasy" analogon MDE indicating a fronto-striato-cerebellar dysbalance with parallels to other psychotropic substances and various endogenous psychoses respectively.
Schreckenberger
M
M
Kliniken für Nuklearmedizin, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Deutschland.
Gouzoulis-Mayfrank
E
E
Sabri
O
O
Arning
C
C
Tuttass
T
T
Schulz
G
G
Kaiser
H J
HJ
Wagenknecht
G
G
Sass
H
H
Büll
U
U
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D006213:Hallucinogens; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
Untersuchungen zum Einfluss von "Ecstasy" auf den zerebralen Glukosemetabolismus: eine 18-FDG-PET-Studie.