Changes in serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline levels in striatum and nucleus accumbens after repeated administration of the abused drug MDMA in rats

The selective neurotoxic action of the abused drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on the serotonergic axons ascending from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is well known. The present study examined the long-term effects of subchronic MDMA treatment on rat brain tissue contents of catecholaminergic neurotransmitters. Two and four weeks after cessation of repeated MDMA treatment (ten consecutive days, 20 mg/kg/day), the tissue neurotransmitter concentrations were measured by means of electrochemical detected HPLC in several forebrain areas and DRN. We found reduced serotonin levels in the whole forebrain at both instants of time. In nucleus accumbens (NAC), the noradrenaline levels were also decreased, whereas dopamine levels were increased 4 weeks after treatment. It is concluded that MDMA causes changes of monoamine transmitter levels outlasting cessation of drug intake for at least 4 weeks. Decreased noradrenaline and/or serotonin may subsequently cause the augmentation of dopamine in NAG, a structure crucially involved in motivation circuits. With exception of transmitter alterations in the NAG, the post drug effects are opposite to the acute effects of MDMA and may underlie the psychiatric changes after MDMA intake in humans. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.