Is frequent dosing with ecstasy a risky business for dopamine-containing neurons?
Over the past 20 years 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; also known as 'ecstasy') has become a widely used recreational drug of abuse. However, studies have indicated that it is neurotoxic to serotonergic nerve terminals in rats and non-human primates and dopaminergic nerve terminals in mice. Recently, this tenet has been questioned following a study suggesting that MDMA can cause toxicity to dopamine-containing neurons in monkeys. In this article, the factors contributing to this change in neurotoxic profile are discussed.
O'Shea
Esther
E
Departamento de Farmacologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. estheros@farm.ucm.es
Colado
M Isabel
MI
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D013696:Temperature
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine