Major metabolites of (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) do not mediate its toxic effects on brain serotonin neurons

Brain Res. 1991 Apr 5;545(1-2):279-82. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(91)91297-e.

Abstract

The two major metabolites of (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), alpha-methyldopamine (alpha-MeDA) and 3-O-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine (3-O-Me-alpha-MeDA), were administered to rats intracerebroventricularly and into brain parenchyma. In addition, their precursors, (alpha-MeDOPA and 3-O-Me-alpha-MeDOPA, respectively) were administered systemically, individually and in combination. None of these treatments produced a lasting depletion of brain serotonin (5-HT). These findings suggest that neither of MDA's major metabolites mediate its toxic effects on 5-HT neurons and that either a minor metabolite is responsible or that alternate mechanisms are involved.

MeSH terms

  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / metabolism
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Cerebral Ventricles / drug effects
  • Cerebral Ventricles / physiology*
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism
  • Deoxyepinephrine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxyepinephrine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxyepinephrine / pharmacology
  • Dopamine* / analogs & derivatives*
  • Functional Laterality
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Injections, Intraventricular
  • Male
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Organ Specificity
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Serotonin / metabolism*

Substances

  • 3-O-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine
  • Serotonin
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • alpha-methyldopamine
  • Deoxyepinephrine
  • Dopamine