title: Neurotoxic effects of ecstasy on the thalamus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurotoxic effects of ecstasy have been reported, although it remains unclear whether effects can be attributed to ecstasy, other recreational drugs or a combination of these.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess specific/independent neurotoxic effects of heavy ecstasy use and contributions of amphetamine, cocaine and cannabis as part of The Netherlands XTC Toxicity (NeXT) study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effects of ecstasy and other substances were assessed with (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, perfusion weighted imaging and [(123)I]2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)-tropane ([(123)I]beta-CIT) single photon emission computed tomography (serotonin transporters) in a sample (n=71) with broad variation in drug use, using multiple regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ecstasy showed specific effects in the thalamus with decreased [(123)I]beta-CIT binding, suggesting serotonergic axonal damage; decreased fractional anisotropy, suggesting axonal loss; and increased cerebral blood volume probably caused by serotonin depletion. Ecstasy had no effect on brain metabolites and apparent diffusion coefficients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Converging evidence was found for a specific toxic effect of ecstasy on serotonergic axons in the thalamus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.m.dewin@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Maartje M L
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Win
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jager
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Booij
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reneman
authors.forename: Thelma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schilt
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lavini
authors.forename: Sílvia D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Olabarriaga
authors.forename: Nick F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: Gerard J den
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Heeten
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van den Brink
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013786:Thalamic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013788:Thalamus / Q000187:drug effects*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018490:Serotonin Agents; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine