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.
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.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
October 1, 1990
Milt Teitler, Sigrun Leonhardt, Nathan M. Appel et al.
33 citations
The brain 5HT2 receptor appears to be the site of action for hallucinogenic PIAs and LSD, marking a major step in understanding the molecular pharmacology of hallucinogenic drugs. Radioactive hallucinogenic drugs revealed detailed properties of 5HT2 receptors, including their interaction with GTP-binding proteins. Autoradiographic studies showed an extensive cortical distribution of 5HT2 receptors and suggested that PIAs may be 5HT1C agonists. Radiolabeling combined with drug discrimination studies indicated that MDMA is amphetamine-like, not LSD-like, while MDA is both LSD-like and amphetamine-like. However, MDMA may act as a 5HT2 agonist at high dosages.