George Battaglia

Loyola University Chicago

2 papers in the library · 167 citations · publishing 1990-1991

Papers

Neuroanatomic specificity and time course of alterations in rat brain serotonergic pathways induced by MDMA (3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine): Assessment using quantitative autoradiography

Synapse August 1, 1991 George Battaglia, John Sharkey, Michael J. Kuhar et al. 113 citations

MDMA (ecstasy) causes long-lasting damage to serotonin neurons in the brain. Using a rat model, researchers measured serotonin transporter density—a marker of healthy serotonin neurons—after four days of MDMA treatment. Within 24 hours, many brain regions showed marked decreases in serotonin transporters, including the cortex, hippocampus, and caudate nucleus. These reductions persisted for at least two weeks. Some regions, like the dorsal striatum, showed greater damage at two weeks than immediately after treatment, while others, such as the endopiriform nucleus, showed partial recovery. Regions containing serotonin cell bodies (raphe nuclei) and axons of passage were unaffected. Catecholamine neurons were not damaged, indicating MDMA's selectivity for serotonin terminals.

DOI: 10.1002/syn.890080403 MDMA Serotonergic Serotonin Ecstasy +5

Neurotoxic Effects of MDMA on Brain Serotonin Neurons: Evidence from Neurochemical and Radioligand Binding Studiesa

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences October 1, 1990 Errol B. de Souza, George Battaglia, Thomas R. Insel 54 citations

MDMA (ecstasy) causes widespread and long-lasting degeneration of serotonin neurons in the brain, while catecholamine neurons remain largely unaffected. The severity of damage depends on dose, with rhesus monkeys more sensitive than rats. Although serotonin uptake sites can recover over up to a year, functional recovery may be permanently impaired, as serotonin content remains 40–50% below that of age-matched controls even one year after administration. Regional differences in damage are observed, with greater reductions in serotonin uptake sites in brain regions containing terminals, while areas with axons and cell bodies are relatively spared.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1990.tb16918.x Addiction Neurochemical Drugs of abuse Psychology +3