Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 447, Issue 1, 26 April 1988, Pages 141-144
Brain Research

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

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(88)90974-2Get rights and content

Abstract

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 its neurotoxic activity and that humans using MDMA may be at risk for developing a persistent depletion of brain serotonin.

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Supported in part by CPHF subcontract No. 091A-701 to J.W. Langston, and NS 23560-01 to S.J. Peroutka.

The authors wish to acknowledge gratefully the assistance of ZoAnn McBride and David Rosner in the preparation of this manuscript.

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