TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1999//
TI  - Reduced in vivo binding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA ('ecstasy') users
JO  - British journal of psychiatry
A1  - Semple, D. M.
A1  - Ebmeier, Klaus P.
A1  - Glabus, M. F.
A1  - O'Carroll, Ronan E.
A1  - Johnstone, E. C.
SP  - 63
EP  - 69
VL  - 175
IS  - 
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0007-1250
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -