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Methamphetamine and MDMA (Ecstasy) Neurotoxicity: 'of Mice and Men'
Author(s) -
Itzhak Yossef,
AchatMendes Cindy
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1080/15216540410001727699
Subject(s) - neurotoxicity , mdma , methamphetamine , serotonergic , dopaminergic , ecstasy , amphetamine , pharmacology , meth , dopamine , addiction , neuroscience , psychology , medicine , serotonin , psychiatry , chemistry , toxicity , receptor , monomer , organic chemistry , acrylate , polymer
Methamphetamine (METH) and 3,4‐meythylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy') are currently major drugs of abuse. One of the major concerns of amphetamines abuse is their potential neurotoxic effect on dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons. Although data from human studies are somewhat limited, compelling evidence suggests that these drugs cause neurotoxicity in rodents and primates. Recent studies in transgenic and knockout mice identified the role of dopamine transporters, nitric oxide, apoptotic proteins, and inflammatory cytokines in amphetamines neurotoxicity. Further research into the mechanisms underlying the dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotoxicity and the behavioral corollaries of these neuronal insults could facilitate our understanding of the consequences of human abuse of METH and MDMA on cognition, drug‐seeking behavior, extinction and relapse.IUBMB Life, 56: 249‐255, 2004