@article{ref1,
title="Reduced in vivo binding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA ('ecstasy') users",
journal="British journal of psychiatry",
year="1999",
author="Semple, D. M. and Ebmeier, Klaus P. and Glabus, M. F. and O'Carroll, Ronan E. and Johnstone, E. C.",
volume="175",
number="",
pages="63-69",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The use of MDMA ('ecstasy') is common among young people in Western countries. Animal models of MDMA toxicity suggest a loss of serotonergic neurons, and potentially implicate in the development of significant psychiatric morbidity in humans. AIMS: To test whether long-term use of MDMA can produce abnormalities in cerebral serotonin, but not dopamine, transporter binding measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHOD: Ten male regular ecstasy users and 10 well-matched controls recruited from the same community sources participated in SPECT with the serotonin transporter (SERT) ligand [123I] beta-CIT. Dopamine transporter binding was determined from scans acquired 23 hours after injection of the tracer. RESULTS: Ecstasy users showed a cortical reduction of SERT binding, particularly prominent in primary sensory-motor cortex, with normal dopamine transporter binding in lenticular nuclei. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional association study provides suggestive evidence for specific, at least temporary, serotonergic neurotoxicity of MDMA in humans.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0007-1250",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}