α-Lipoic acid prevents 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)-induced neurotoxicity
Neuroreport November 1, 1999 Norberto Aguirre, Meritxell Barrionuevo, Marı́a J. Ramı́rez et al. 89 citations
A single dose of MDMA (20 mg/kg) given to rats caused significant hyperthermia and reduced serotonin content and serotonin transporter density by 40–60% in the frontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus one week later. MDMA also increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. Repeated administration of the metabolic antioxidant α-lipoic acid before MDMA did not prevent the acute hyperthermia but fully prevented the serotonergic deficits and glial changes. These results support the hypothesis that free radical formation is responsible for MDMA-induced neurotoxicity.