title: Alpha-lipoic acid prevents 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)-induced neurotoxicity.
abstract: A single administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 20 mg/kg, i.p.), induced significant hyperthermia in rats and reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) content and [3H]paroxetine-labeled 5-HT transporter density in the frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus by 40-60% 1 week later. MDMA treatment also increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. Repeated administration of the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (100 mg/kg, i.p., b.i.d. for 2 consecutive days) 30 min prior to MDMA did not prevent the acute hyperthermia induced by the drug; however, it fully prevented the serotonergic deficits and the changes in the glial response induced by MDMA. These results further support the hypothesis that free radical formation is responsible for MDMA-induced neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barrionuevo
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Río
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lasheras
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D017072:Neostriatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493232:Slc6a4 protein, rat; D012701:Serotonin; D017374:Paroxetine; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine