Toxicodynamics and long-term toxicity of the recreational drug, 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy').
The recreational drug, (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy'), is a potent serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxin in animals. Whether humans who use MDMA incur 5-HT neural injury is unknown. The present studies utilized positron emission tomography (PET) in conjunction with the 5-HT transporter ligand, [11C]McN-5652 to assess the status of brain 5-HT neurons in human MDMA users. Like nonhuman primates treated with neurotoxic doses of MDMA, humans with a history of MDMA use showed lasting decrements in global brain [11C]McN-5652 binding, with decreases in [11C]McN-5652 binding positively correlated to the extent of previous MDMA use. These results suggest that human MDMA use results in brain 5-HT neurotoxicity.
Ricaurte
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Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD, USA. ricaurte@jhmi.edu
McCann
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Szabo
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Scheffel
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D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D010215:Papio; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000378:metabolism; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D007546:Isoquinolines; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; C058079:McN 5652; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine