Potentiation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced dopamine release and serotonin neurotoxicity by 5-HT2 receptor agonists.
European journal of pharmacology November 3, 1994 G A Gudelsky, B K Yamamoto, J F Nash 144 citations
Activating 5-HT2 receptors with DOI or 5-MeODMT significantly enhanced the acute increase in extracellular dopamine in the rat striatum caused by MDMA, as measured by in vivo microdialysis. Neither drug alone altered dopamine levels. Seven days after a single MDMA dose (10 mg/kg), striatal serotonin (5-HT) was decreased but not significantly. However, combined treatment with DOI and MDMA led to a significantly greater depletion of striatal 5-HT than MDMA alone or vehicle. The findings suggest that 5-HT2 receptor activation is an important determinant of MDMA-induced acute dopamine release and subsequent long-term serotonin depletion.