Studies on the role of dopamine in the degeneration of 5-HT nerve endings in the brain of Dark Agouti rats following 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'ecstasy') administration

摘要

1. We investigated whether dopamine plays a role in the neurodegeneration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) nerve endings occurring in Dark Agouti rat brain after 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or 'ecstasy') administration. 2. Haloperidol (2 mg kg~-1 i.p.) injected 5 min prior and 55 min post MDMA (15 mg kg~-1 i.p.) abolished the acute MDMA-induced hyperthermia and attenuated the neurotoxic loss of 5-HT 7 days later. When the rectal temperature of MDMA + Haloperidol treated rats was kept elevated, this protective effect was marginal.