Therapeutic effects of methimazole on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced hyperthermia and serotonergic neurotoxicity.
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie August 1, 2023 I-Hsun Li, Tsung-Ta Liu, Ying-Chen Chen et al.
Methimazole (MMI), a drug that inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis, alleviates several harmful effects of MDMA (ecstasy) in male rats. MMI reduced MDMA-induced hyperthermia (overheating) and increased heat loss through peripheral vasodilation. PET scans showed that MDMA raised glucose uptake in skeletal muscles, which MMI pretreatment prevented. Immunohistochemistry revealed that MMI lessened the loss of serotonin transporter fibers, a sign of neurotoxicity caused by MDMA. In the forced swimming test, rats given MMI swam longer and were immobile less, indicating more active behavior. The findings suggest MMI lowers body temperature, reduces neurotoxicity, and promotes excited behavior, though further research is needed for clinical use.