K. Kramer et al., IN-VITRO RELEASE OF [H-3] 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE FROM FETAL AND MATERNALBRAIN BY DRUGS OF ABUSE, Developmental brain research, 78(1), 1994, pp. 142-146
Cortical synaptosomes were prepared from pregnant dams (GD-17) and rat
fetuses (ED-17), loaded with [H-3]5-HT and assayed to evaluate releas
e mediated by cocaine (CO C), fenfluramine (FEN) and 3,4-methylenediox
ymethamphetamine (MDMA). COC and FEN elicited a high-affinity (10(-9)
M) release response in fetal tissue which was not apparent in the dam.
MDMA-induced release was similar in magnitude in both tissue types. C
onsequently, the release of 5-HT from developing neurons may be one me
chanism by which COC and FEN elicit their teratogenetic effects in ute
ro.