Memory disturbances in "Ecstasy" users are correlated with an altered brain serotonin neurotransmission.
BACKGROUND
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is known to damage brain pre-synaptic serotonin (5-HT) neurons. Since loss of 5-HT neurons has been implicated in memory loss, it is important to establish whether MDMA use may produce changes in postsynaptic 5-HT receptors and memory function in humans.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether MDMA use leads to compensative alterations in post-synaptic 5-HT2A receptors and whether there is a relation with memory disturbances.


METHODS
Brain cortical 5-HT2A receptor densities were studied with [123I]-5-I-R91150 SPECT in five abstinent MDMA users and nine healthy controls. Memory performance was assessed using RAVLT.


RESULTS
[123I]-5-I-R91150 binding ratios were significantly higher in the occipital cortex of MDMA users than in controls, indicating up-regulation. Mean cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding correlated positively with RAVLT-recall in MDMA users.


CONCLUSIONS
Our preliminary results may indicate altered 5-HT neuronal function with correlated memory impairment in abstinent MDMA users.
Reneman
L
L
Graduate School of Neurosciences, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. l.reneman@amc.uva.nl
Booij
J
J
Schmand
B
B
van den Brink
W
W
Gunning
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000378:metabolism; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D010880:Piperidines; C105020:R 91150; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine