Toxic effects of MDMA on central serotonergic neurons in the primate: importance of route and frequency of drug administration
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This study compared the toxic effects of oral versus subcutaneous and single versus multiple doses of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on central serotonergic neurons in non-human primates. Orally administered MDMA was approximately one-half as effective as subcutaneously administered drug. Multiple doses were more effective than single doses, but a single 5 mg/kg dose of MDMA given orally still produced a long-lasting depletion of serotonin in the monkey brain. These results indicate that when MDMA is given to monkeys in a manner similar to that employed by humans, it exerts toxic effects on central serotonergic neurons. This suggests that humans using MDMA may be at risk for incurring central serotonergic neuronal damage.
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A longer interval between sessions may have been needed to ensure no carry-over effects.
“Thus, it is possible that a longer period between sessions was required to ensure the absence of carry-over effects.”
From Effects of MDMA on sociability and neural response to social threat and social reward (2009) · cites this paper as Ricaurte et al. 1988
Preclinical findings suggest serotonin depletion may persist up to two weeks after single or repeated oral doses.
“preclinical findings suggest that in non-human primates serotonin depletion may persist for up to two weeks after single doses (Ricaurte et al. 1988) or repeated oral doses (Mechan et al. 2005).”
From Effects of MDMA on sociability and neural response to social threat and social reward (2009) · cites this paper as Ricaurte et al. 1988
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References 11 · Cited by 245
- Authors
- Ricaurte, G. A., DeLanney, L. E., Irwin, I., & Langston, J. W.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- California Institute for Medical Research (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ricaurte, G.A.
- Venue
- Brain Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1988-04
- Volume
- 446
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 165-168
- ISSN
- 0006-8993 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2080043971
- Cited by
- 245
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 14.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Brain Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Keywords
- MDMA, ecstasy, serotonin depletion, serotonergic neurons, neurotoxicity, route of administration, oral administration, subcutaneous administration, dosing frequency, repeated dosing, non-human primates
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Oral, Amphetamines, Animals, Brain, Drug Administration Schedule, Injections, Subcutaneous, Male, Neurons, Organ Specificity, Saimiri, Serotonin, 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
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