3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE-INDUCED ACUTE CHANGES IN DOPAMINE TRANSPORTER FUNCTION

The acute effects of the amphetamine designer drug, 3,4-methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA or 'ecstasy'), on dopamine transporter function in rat striatum were investigated and compared to other psychostimulan ts known to influence monoaminergic systems. A single MDMA injection ( 10-20 mg/kg; s.c.) caused a dose-related decrease in [H-3]dopamine upt ake into striatal synaptosomes prepared 1 h after MDMA administration. This rapid effect on [H-3]dopamine uptake returned to control levels 24 h after treatment. A. single administration of other amphetamine an alogs, such as methamphetamine (15 mg/kg; s.c.), p-chloroamphetamine ( 10 mg/kg; i.p.) or methcathinone (30 mg/kg; s.c.), also rapidly decrea sed striatal [H-3]dopamine uptake. In contrast, a single or multiple a dministrations of cocaine (30 mg/kg; i.p.) had no effect on [H-3]dopam ine transport into striatal synaptosomes. These changes in dopamine tr ansporter activity by the amphetamine analogs may occur via reactive o xygen species-mediated mechanisms. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.