3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy") is a potentially neurotoxic recreational drug of abuse. Though the mechanisms involved are still not completely understood, formation of reactive metabolites and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to MDMA-related neurotoxicity. Neuronal mitochondrial trafficking, and their targeting to synapses, is essential for proper neuronal function and ...

BETHESDA—As the popularity of the drug ecstasy (MDMA) continues to climb—11% of high school seniors have tried it, according to a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) survey— behavioral researchers are recommending control strategies that may seem antithetical to ever-expanding law enforcement efforts. Instead of focusing on eradication and punishment, these social scientists take another ta...

Background The ring-substituted amphetamine derivative ( ± )-3,4methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) has become a widely abused psychoactive drug among young people. Studies indicate that MDMA produces long-term alterations of serotonergic parameters in the brain of rodents and primates, and MDMA was also found to be neurotoxic in humans. The aim of our work was to characterize the regi...

UNLABELLED This study assessed the effects of the serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) transporter inhibitor duloxetine on the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) in vitro and in 16 healthy subjects. The clinical study used a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, four-session, crossover design. In vitro, duloxetine blocked the release of both 5-HT and NE by...

3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") is a psychoactive and hallucinogenic drug of abuse. MDMA has been shown to produce neurotoxicity both in animals and humans. Recently, the vasodilator drugs such as pentoxifylline is one of the new strategies which have been considered as neuroprotector. In this study effect of pentoxifylline on bcl-2 gene expression changes in hippocampus ...

Introduction The pharmacology and effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, " Ecstasy ") continue to be a topic of interest for medical and neuroscience researchers. Approximately 130 original research studies and one quantitative (meta-analytic) review of the nature and effects of MDMA have been published since the completion MAPS' second yearly review of the literature (Jerome and B...

3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") is a psychoactive and hallucinogenic drug of abuse. MDMA has been shown to produce neurotoxicity both in animals and humans. Recently, the vasodilator drugs such as pentoxifylline is one of the new strategies which have been considered as neuroprotector. In this study effect of pentoxifylline on bcl- 2 gene expression changes in hippocampus...

MDMA ("ecstasy") is widely used as a recreational drug, although there has been some debate about its neurotoxic effects in humans. However, most studies have investigated subjects with heavy use patterns, and the effects of transient MDMA use are unclear. In this review, we therefore focus on subjects with moderate use patterns, in order to assess the evidence for harmful effects. We searched ...