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Shankaran M, Yamamoto BK, Gudelsky GA. 
“Involvement of the serotonin transporter in the formation of hydroxyl radicals induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine”. 
Eur J Pharmacol. 1999;385(2-3):103-10.
Abstract
The mechanism of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA-induced depletion of brain serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT has been proposed to involve the generation of reactive oxygen species. In the present study, quantification of the extracellular concentration of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid 2,3-DHBA from salicylic acid was used as an index of hydroxyl radical generation. Although both MDMA and D-amphetamine markedly increased the extracellular concentration of dopamine in the striatum, only MDMA increased the extracellular concentration of 2,3-DHBA. Treatment with fluoxetine either 1 h prior to or 4 h following the administration of MDMA reduced the MDMA-induced formation of 2,3-DHBA and also attenuated the MDMA-induced depletion of 5-HT in the striatum. These results are supportive of the view that the MDMA-induced generation of hydroxyl radicals and, ultimately, the long-term depletion of 5-HT, is dependent, in part, on the activation of the 5-HT transporter.




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