NEUROBIOLOGY NEWS ARTICLE

Prozac protects brain cells from damages caused by Ectasy administration

A recent study published in the journal NeuroImage reports that the intake of the anti-depressant fluoxetine (brand name Prozac) can reduce cellular damages that are caused by the use of the recreational drug, ecstasy (Li et al., 2010).  According to surveys, ecstasy is now the current preferred recreational drug because the stimulatory effects are achieved immediately upon intake.  Ecstasy, also chemically known as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, or MDMA, is a powerful stimulant that has ended up in the hands of most adolescents and young adults.  It is quite alarming, though, to find medical and scientific reports that describe the serious side effects of MDMA, including the rapid increase in heart rate and blood pressure.  These side effects are actually the main reasons for its abuse recreational drug users, as these individuals attempt to find rapid stimulation of their senses.

One of the strongest side effects of MDMA is often observed on the nervous system of an individual.  MDMA has been reported to significant decrease the amount of a specific protein in brain cells that is responsible for sending messages to the rest of the body.  The serotonin transporter, or SERT, is mainly responsible for sending messages from one nerve cell to another, using a chemical known as serotonin.  Any imbalance or disturbance in the pathway of transmission may result in a mental health condition such as depression.  In the research article, images of brain tissue sections collected from rats that were treated with MDMA showed the destruction of cells and tissues in different parts of the brain, including the thalamus, hippocampus and frontal cortex, to name a few.

The study thus tested whether fluoxetine-treated rats would succumb to the same brain cell and tissue damage these animals were on MDMA for a defined period of time.  The study was performed using the technology known as micropositron emission tomography, or microPET.  This new technology allows the visualization of regions of the body with minimal invasion (Cowan, 2007).  Instead, tracer compounds are injected into the animal through an intravenous (IV) line, which are then detected using a radioactive scanner.  MicroPET is considered as the most promising technology for biomedical imaging, together with computerized tomography scans (CT scans).

In order to mimic an actual human condition, male Sprague-Dawley rats received a dose of MDMA in the concentration of 10 milligrams per kilogram body weight, twice a day for 30 days.  Experimental settings included a group of rats that received MDMA mixed with a salt solution of 5 milligrams per kilogram body weight and a group that received MDMA mixed with fluoxetine at a concentration of 10 milligrams per kilo gram body weight.  Another group of rats was given fluoxetine at 10 milligrams per kilogram body weight, while another group of rats was given fluoxetine and salt solutions.  The accumulation of MDMA in brain tissues were then traced using microPET imaging using a radioligand or chemical that would specifically interact with MDMA molecules in the cells.  The specific radioligand used in the study was 2-amino-4-18F-fluorophenylthio) benzylamine or ADAM, which was chemically labeled with radioactive fluorine (18F).

The using the ADAM radioligand, the amount of serotonin in the brain tissues could be determined, as well as any changes through the course of the study.  The research experiment was designed to mimic a human condition wherein an individual taking the anti-depressant fluoxetine would also be using the recreational drug ecstasy.  The primary condition of the helath condition would be depression and thus an antidepressant would be prescribed to the individual.    Fluoxetine (Prozac) is generally prescribed to increase the activity of the serotonin protein and achieve the normal state of mental health.  Based on the results collected from the study using animal models to mimic this particular human condition, the rats which were given both fluoxetine and MDMA showed the least damages in the brain tissues and cells.  On the other hand, the group of rats that were only administered MDMA showed massive destruction of brain cells.

The study thus showed that the antidepressant fluoxetine imparts a protective effect on the brain cells of the rats, which in turn would prevent damages that are caused by the intake of MDMA.  The protective effects of fluoxetine were observed as early as the 4th day of fluoxetine administration.  In addition, a single dose of fluoxetine was enough to protect the brain cells until the end of study, which was approximately 30 days.  The investigators proposed a mechanism of action of fluoxetine, in the presence of MDMA, as follows

Nerve cells of the brain
 Intake of MDMA (Ecstasy)
Blocked serotonin transporter protein
Fluoxetine (increases serotonin reuptake)
Defective nerve activities            Unblocked serotonin transporter
                                       Damage to brain cells proteins (Repaired)

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