Comparative potencies of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) analogues as inhibitors of [3H]noradrenaline and [3H]5‐HT transport in mammalian cell lines
British Journal of Pharmacology September 24, 2007 Therese Montgomery, Christophe Buon, S Eibauer et al. 33 citations
Illegal ecstasy tablets often contain compounds similar to MDMA whose effects are unknown. This study measured how well eight such compounds block the noradrenaline and serotonin transporters, key targets of MDMA in the brain. 2,3-MDMA was less potent than MDMA at the serotonin transporter but equally potent at the noradrenaline transporter. 2CB and BDB were less potent at the noradrenaline transporter but equally potent at the serotonin transporter. MBDB, DMMA, MDOH, and MDMA metabolites HMA and HMMA were all less potent than MDMA at both transporters. These results clarify how chemical structure affects the activity of MDMA-like compounds.