Orally administered MDMA causes a long-term depletion of serotonin in rat brain

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 447; no. 1; p. 141
• Main Authors: Finnegan, K T, Ricaurte, G A, Ritchie, L D, Irwin, I, Peroutka, S J, Langston, J W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 26-04-1988
• Subjects: 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine - administration & dosage; 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine - analogs & derivatives; 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine - pharmacology; Administration, Oral; Amphetamines - pharmacology; Animals; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; Injections, Subcutaneous; Male; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Reference Values; Serotonin - metabolism; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0006-8993
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(88)90974-2

Recent studies suggest that 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), when administered subcutaneously, is toxic to central serotonergic neurons in rats. Because humans typically self-administer this drug orally, we compared this route to the s.c. route of administration. Orally administered MDMA produced a dose-related depletion of serotonin comparable to that produced by the s.c. route. These findings suggest that MDMA, when given orally, retains it neurotoxic activity and that humans using MDMA may be at risk for developing a persistent depletion of brain serotonin.