Validity of [123I]β‐CIT SPECT in detecting MDMA‐induced serotonergic neurotoxicity
Synapse September 5, 2002 Liesbeth Reneman, Jan Booij, Jan B. A. Habraken et al. 33 citations
SPECT imaging with [123I]β-CIT can detect reductions in serotonin transporter density caused by MDMA neurotoxicity. A rhesus monkey treated with MDMA showed a 39% decrease in SERT binding in the hypothalamic/midbrain region 31 days after treatment, matching autoradiography data (−34%). Rat studies confirmed significant binding reductions in SERT-rich regions one week after neurotoxic MDMA doses. The findings validate [123I]β-CIT SPECT as a method for measuring MDMA-induced serotonergic damage in the brain.