Evidence from research with a range of animal species, from rodents to non-human primates, has shown that MDMA (+/-3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is neurotoxic. This article explores the evidence that MDMA may be neurotoxic in humans by briefly overviewing three types of research: (1) neurobiological, (2) psychological/somatic and (3) psychiatric. The first type of evidence derives from ne...

Introduction: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness caused by exposure to traumatic event. The current treatment includes trauma-focused psychotherapy along with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). It estimated that for about 40-60% of patients it does not bring the desired improvement, which prompted scientists look new methods pharmacotherapy. most promising co...

Mice lacking multidrug resistance protein 1a (mdr1a) are protected from methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced neurotoxicity, suggesting mdr1a might play an important role in this phenomenon. We characterized MDMA pharmacokinetics in murine plasma and brain to determine if mdr1a alters MDMA distribution. Wild-type (mdr1a⁺/⁺) and mdr1a knock-out (mdr1a⁻/⁻) mice received i.p. 10, 20 or 40 m...

The neurotoxicity of (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "Ecstasy") is influenced by temperature and varies according to species. The mechanisms underlying these two features of MDMA neurotoxicity are unknown, but differences in MDMA metabolism have recently been implicated in both. The present study was designed to 1) assess the effect of hypothermia on MDMA metabolism, 2) determine w...

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") is a major stimulant drug of abuse worldwide. MDMA produces euphoria, enhances interpersonal communication and feelings of closeness with others. In contrast to the induced emotions of affection and sensual enhancement, clinical studies show that it impairs sexual drive and functioning. In drug-free humans, sexual stimulation with orgasm induces...

BACKGROUND Animal experimental studies have prompted concerns that widespread use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') by young people may pose a major public health problem in terms of persistent serotonin neurotoxicity. AIMS To determine the status of brain serotonin neurons in a group of abstinent MDMA users. METHOD We assessed the integrity of brain serotonin neurons b...

objective(s): 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (mdma) is one of the most popular drugs of abuse in the world with hallucinogenic properties that has been shown to induce apoptosis in  liver cells. the present study aimed to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (ptx) on liver damage induced by acute administration of mdma in wistar rat. materials and methods: animals were administered with...

conclusions these results suggest a negative correlation between mdma administration and adult hippocampal neurogenesis. results our results showed that mdma administration caused a decrease in neun expression in the experimental group compared with the control group. objectives due to the effect of neurogenesis on memory and learning, in this study, we investigated the effects of mdma on neun ...

background ecstasy or 3-4, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (mdma), as an amphetamine derivate, could lead to learning and memory impairment. objectives as the hippocampus is responsible for learning and memory, herein we evaluated acute and chronic effects of mdma on the structure of the hippocampus. materials and methods male wistar rats (200-250 g) received single or multiple injections of mdma...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") compels mammalian serotonergic neurons to release serotonin (5-HT). In this study, MDMA altered synaptic transmission presynaptically by enhancing quantal release in two model glutamatergic synapses-the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of the crayfish opener muscle, which is enhanced by exogenous 5-HT application, and the NMJ of a larval body wall...