Possible Interaction: Amphetamine and Serotonin Agents

“MDMA causes selective and persistent lesions of central serotonergic nerve terminals, whereas amphetamines damage both the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems.”

“It is supposed that serotonergic mechanisms present in the ventro-lateral regions of the caudate nucleus can modulate stereotyped behaviour triggered by amphetamine.”

“Together, our results suggest that chronic amphetamine exposure reduces serotonergic neurotransmission, in part via alterations to glucocorticoid receptor-facilitation of serotonin release in the rat ventral hippocampus.”

“We have previously shown that chronic amphetamine treatment increases corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type-2 levels in the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus of the rat.”

“MDMA and other amphetamines induce serotonergic and dopaminergic terminal neurotoxicity and also neurodegeneration in areas including the cortex, hippocampus, striatum and thalamus.”

“Although the exact mechanisms involved in the serotonergic neurotoxicity produced by substituted amphetamines are not completely known, evidence suggests that oxidative and/or bioenergetic stress may contribute in the mechanism of neurotoxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).”

“A direct infusion of amphetamine into the dorsal raphe nucleus of the rat inhibited the activity of serotonergic neurons in this site.”