Striatal serotonin is depleted in brain of a human MDMA (Ecstasy) user
Stephen J. Kish, Yoshiaki Furukawa, Lee-Cyn Ang, Shawn P. Vorce, Kathryn S. Kalasinsky
Neurology July 25, 2000 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.55.2.294 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIn the brain of a chronic MDMA user, serotonin and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were depleted by 50 to 80% in the striatum, while dopamine levels remained normal. This suggests that MDMA exposure can reduce serotonin stores in the human brain, and some behavioral effects of the drug may result from massive release and depletion of serotonin.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Chronic MDMA user |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | Dopamine Metabolite |
| Citations | 119 |
| Key finding | Striatal serotonin and its metabolite were severely depleted (50-80%) in a chronic MDMA user, while dopamine levels remained normal. |
Abstract
The authors found that striatal levels of serotonin and those of its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were severely depleted by 50 to 80% in brain of a chronic user of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) whereas concentrations of dopamine were within the normal control range. Our data suggest that MDMA exposure in the human can cause decreased tissue stores of serotonin and therefore some of the behavioral effects of this drug of abuse could be caused by massive release and depletion of brain serotonin.