title: Evidence for chronically altered serotonin function in the cerebral cortex of female 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine polydrug users.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also popularly known as "ecstasy") is a popular recreational drug that produces loss of serotonin axons in animal models. Whether MDMA produces chronic reductions in serotonin signaling in humans remains controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether MDMA use is associated with chronic reductions in serotonin signaling in the cerebral cortex of women as reflected by increased serotonin(2A) receptor levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional case-control study comparing serotonin(2A) receptor levels in abstinent female MDMA polydrug users with those in women who did not use MDMA (within-group design assessing the association of lifetime MDMA use and serotonin(2A) receptors). Case participants were abstinent from MDMA use for at least 90 days as verified by analysis of hair samples. The serotonin(2A) receptor levels in the cerebral cortex were determined using serotonin(2A)-specific positron emission tomography with radioligand fluorine 18-labeled setoperone as the tracer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 14 female MDMA users and 10 women who did not use MDMA (controls). The main exclusion criteria were nondrug-related DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric disorders and general medical illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cortical serotonin(2A) receptor nondisplaceable binding potential (serotonin(2A)BP(ND)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MDMA users had increased serotonin(2A)BP(ND) in occipital-parietal (19.7%), temporal (20.5%), occipitotemporal-parietal (18.3%), frontal (16.6%), and frontoparietal (18.5%) regions (corrected P < .05). Lifetime MDMA use was positively associated with serotonin(2A)BP(ND) in frontoparietal (β = 0.665; P = .007), occipitotemporal (β = 0.798; P = .002), frontolimbic (β = 0.634; P = .02), and frontal (β = 0.691; P = .008) regions. In contrast, there were no regions in which MDMA use was inversely associated with receptor levels. There were no statistically significant effects of the duration of MDMA abstinence on serotonin(2A)BP(ND).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recreational use of MDMA is associated with long-lasting increases in serotonin(2A) receptor density. Serotonin(2A) receptor levels correlate positively with lifetime MDMA use and do not decrease with abstinence. These results suggest that MDMA use produces chronic serotonin neurotoxicity in humans. Given the broad role of serotonin in human brain function, the possibility for therapeutic MDMA use, and the widespread recreational popularity of this drug, these results have critical public health implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
authors.forename: Christina R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Di Iorio
authors.forename: Tristan J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Mary S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Aize
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jennifer U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Blackford
authors.forename: Baxter
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Mohammed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benningfield
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cowan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D011869:Radioligand Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; C045359:setoperone; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine