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Effects of dextromethorphan on MDMA-induced serotonergic aberration in the brains of non-human primates using [(123)I]-ADAM/SPECT

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a common recreational drug, is known to cause serotonergic neurotoxicity in the brain. Dextromethorphan (DM) is a widely used antitussive reported to exert anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. In this study, we examined the long-term effect of MDMA on the prima...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Ma, Kuo-Hsing, Liu, Tsung-Ta, Weng, Shao-Ju, Chen, Chien-Fu F., Huang, Yuahn-Sieh, Chueh, Sheau-Huei, Liao, Mei-Hsiu, Chang, Kang-Wei, Sung, Chi-Chang, Hsu, Te-Hung, Huang, Wen-Sheng, Cheng, Cheng-Yi
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Nature Publishing Group 2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5150522/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27941910
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep38695
Descripción
Sumario:3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a common recreational drug, is known to cause serotonergic neurotoxicity in the brain. Dextromethorphan (DM) is a widely used antitussive reported to exert anti-inflammatory effect in vivo. In this study, we examined the long-term effect of MDMA on the primate serotonergic system and the protective property of DM against MDMA-induced serotonergic abnormality using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Nine monkeys (Macaca cyclopis) were divided into three groups, namely control, MDMA and co-treatment (MDMA/DM). [(123)I]-ADAM was used as the radioligand for serotonin transporters (SERT) in SPECT scans. SERT levels of the brain were evaluated and presented as the uptake ratios (URs) of [(123)I]-ADAM in several regions of interest of the brain including midbrain, thalamus and striatum. We found that the URs of [(123)I]-ADAM were significantly lower in the brains of MDMA than control group, indicating lower brain SERT levels in the MDMA-treated monkeys. This MDMA-induced decrease in brain SERT levels could persist for over four years. However, the loss of brain SERT levels was not observed in co-treatment group. These results suggest that DM may exert a protective effect against MDMA-induced serotonergic toxicity in the brains of the non-human primate.