title: Ecstasy-induced cell death in cortical neuronal cultures is serotonin 2A-receptor-dependent and potentiated under hyperthermia.
abstract: Studies on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("ecstasy")-induced neurotoxicity mainly focus on damage of serotonergic terminals. Less attention has been given to neuronal cell death produced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and other amphetamines in areas including the cortex, striatum and thalamus. In the present study we investigated 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity in neuronal serum free cultures from rat cortex. Since 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine intake induces hyperthermia in both animals and humans, the experiments were performed under normal (36.5 degrees C) and hyperthermic conditions (40 degrees C). Our findings showed a dose-, time- and temperature-dependent apoptotic cell death induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in cortical neurons. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced damage was potentiated under hyperthermia. The neurotoxicity was reduced by the serotonin 2A-receptor antagonists, ketanserin and (2R,4R)-5-[2-[2-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]phenoxy]ethyl]-1-methyl-3-pyrrolidinol hydrochloride, in both normothermic and hyperthermic conditions. (+/-)-2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine hydrochloride, a model agonist for the serotonin 2A-receptor, also induced a dose- and time-dependent apoptotic cell death. Again, protection was provided by ketanserin and (2R,4R)-5-[2-[2-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]phenoxy]ethyl]-1-methyl-3-pyrrolidinol hydrochloride against (+/-)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine hydrochloride-induced neurotoxicity, thereby indicating that the 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine stimulation of the serotonin 2A-receptor leads to neurotoxicity. This study provides for the first time evidence that direct 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine serotonin 2A-receptor stimulation leads to neuronal cortical death. alpha-Phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone a free radical scavenger and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine as well as the NMDA-receptor antagonist MK-801 provided protection under normothermia and hyperthermia, thereby suggesting the participation of free radicals in 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced cell death. Since 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine serotonin 2A-receptor agonistic properties lead to neuronal death, clinically available atypical antipsychotic drugs with serotonin 2A-antagonistic properties could be a valuable therapeutic tool against 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Rede de Química e Tecnologia, Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. joaocapela@ff.up.pt
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Capela
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruscher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lautenschlager
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Freyer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dirnagl
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Gaio
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006213:Hallucinogens; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine