Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
October 1, 1995
H W Broening, J F Bowyer, W Slikker
151 citations
In rats, the age at which MDMA is given determines both the body-temperature response and the long-term damage to serotonin neurons. In 10-day-old pups, MDMA produced no lasting loss of serotonin or its reuptake sites and no hyperthermia. In 40- and 70-day-old rats, MDMA caused hypothermia in a cold environment (10°C) and hyperthermia in warm environments (25°C or 33°C). When hypothermia occurred, the long-term reductions in serotonin content and reuptake sites were significantly weakened or absent. When hyperthermia occurred, those reductions were significantly worsened. Body temperature changes strongly correlated with the degree of serotonin damage, indicating that hyperthermia plays a key role in MDMA's serotonergic neurotoxicity.
Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology
September 1, 2000
Z Xu, L W Chang, W Slikker et al.
37 citations
Ibogaine, a psychoactive compound from a West African shrub, can damage brain cells in rats even after a single dose. In rats given 100 mg/kg, the cerebellum showed clear signs of neurodegeneration, specifically in Purkinje neurons. Similar damage occurred in all rats given 75 mg/kg, though the affected areas were narrower. At 50 mg/kg, only 2 of 6 rats showed damage, but those affected had patches of astrocyte activation. No damage was seen in rats given 25 mg/kg, suggesting this dose may be a safe threshold with no observable adverse effects. The findings highlight ibogaine's potential neurotoxicity, which is relevant given its use in addiction treatment.
Brain research
October 21, 1996
S F Ali, G D Newport, W Slikker et al.
29 citations
A single injection of ibogaine (IBO) rapidly increases the hormones prolactin and corticosterone in adult male rats, with prolactin returning to normal within 60 minutes and corticosterone within 24 hours. IBO also reduces dopamine in the striatum and frontal cortex for up to two hours while raising dopamine metabolites, indicating altered dopamine processing. Some dopamine metabolite levels remain below normal 24 hours later. Serotonin and its metabolite decrease only in the striatum at 60 minutes. These effects may relate to ibogaine's reported ability to help reduce drug craving, but further research is needed.
Brain research
March 27, 1999
X Yu, S Z Imam, G D Newport et al.
17 citations
In female C57BL/6N mice, methamphetamine caused a rise in body temperature and increased levels of a stress protein (HSP-72) in the caudate nucleus. Ibogaine alone lowered body temperature. When ibogaine was given before methamphetamine, it completely prevented the hyperthermia and reduced HSP-72 expression. These results suggest ibogaine can block methamphetamine-induced brain stress and temperature changes.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
September 1, 2000
Z Binienda, M A Beaudoin, B T Thorn et al.
4 citations
Pretreatment with ibogaine dampens the brain's reaction to cocaine in rats. In awake adult male rats, cocaine alone caused a brief increase in alpha1 brain wave power and desynchronization in alpha2 and beta bands, along with a surge in dopamine levels in the caudate nucleus. After ibogaine pretreatment, cocaine instead produced a prolonged increase in delta, theta, and alpha1 power lasting up to an hour, and dopamine levels decreased further rather than rising. Dopamine turnover increased with ibogaine alone but not when cocaine followed. These changes in electrical brain activity and neurotransmitter levels indicate a reduced response to cocaine after ibogaine pretreatment.