title: Brain serotonin transporter binding in former users of MDMA ('ecstasy').
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal experimental studies have prompted concerns that widespread use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') by young people may pose a major public health problem in terms of persistent serotonin neurotoxicity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the status of brain serotonin neurons in a group of abstinent MDMA users.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the integrity of brain serotonin neurons by measuring serotonin transporter (SERT) binding using positron emission tomography (PET) and [(11)C]DASB in 12 former MDMA users, 9 polydrug users who had never taken MDMA and 19 controls who reported no history of illicit drug use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the binding potential of [(11)C]DASB between the groups in any of the brain regions examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the extent that [(11)C]DASB binding provides an index of the integrity of serotonin neurons, our findings suggest that MDMA use may not result in long-term damage to serotonin neurons when used recreationally in humans.
authors.affiliation: PET Psychiatry, Cyclotron Building, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Sudhakar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: Zubin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bhagwagar
authors.forename: Naga Venkatesha
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hinz
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: H Valerie
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Curran
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grasby