3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine amphetamine

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA ecstasy) is a synthetic analog of amphetamine that produces hallucinations, an elevation in mood, and a feeling of emotional closeness . This latter property has led to Ecstasy being referred to as the hug drag . The unique properties of Ecstasy as compared to the parent compound amphetamine are believed to be due to the more selective effects of Ecstasy in promoting transporter-mediated release of serotonin. The use of Ecstasy has become a part of the culture associated with rave style dance parties. 

Reserpine irreversibly inhibits the triphosphatase that maintains the proton gradient and so it depletes neurons of their vesicular store of transmitter. This explains why restoration of normal neuronal function rests on delivery of new vesicles from the cell bodies. Some amphetamine derivatives, including methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), are also substrates for the transporter and, as a result, competitively inhibit noradrenaline uptake. Another way of inhibiting the transporter is by dissipation of the pH gradient across the vesicular membrane i-chloroamphetamine is thought to act in this way. 

Evans, S.M., and Johanson, C.E. Discriminative stimulus properties of ( )-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and ( )-3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine in pigeons. Drug Alcohol Depend 18 159-164, 1986. 

Kamien, J.B. Johanson, C.E. Schuster, C.R. and Woolverton, W.L. The effects of ( )-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ( )-methylenedioxy-amphetamine, in monkeys trained to discriminate (+)-amphetamine from saline. Drug and Alcohol Depend 18 139-147, 1986. 

Schmidt, C.J. Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 240 1-7, 1987. 

Steele, T.D. Nichols, D.E. and Yim, G.K.W. Stereochemical effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and related amphetamine derivatives on inhibition of uptake of [ H]-monoamines into synaptosomes from different regions of rat brain. Biochem Pharmacol 36 2297-2303, 1987. 

Recent controversy about the recreational abuse and potential therapeutic use of designer drugs has focused attention on MDA (methylenedioxyampheta-mine HCl) and structurally related phenylisopropylamine compounds, including MDMA istructural analogs of the psychomotor stimulant amphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline, and produce stimulant and/or hallucinogenic effects (Shulgin 1978). 

Schmidt, C.J. Lynne, W. and Lovenberg, W. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine A potentially neurotoxie amphetamine analogue. Eur J Pharmacol 124 175-178, 1986. 

The drugs 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 3,4-methyl-enedioxyamphetamine (MDA) are ring-substituted derivatives of methamphetamine and amphetamine, respectively. These methylenedioxy-substituted amphetamines have been reported to exhibit both stimulant and psychotomimetic properties (Anderson et al. 1978 Braun et al. 1980 ... 

This chapter discusses the responses of these extrapyramidal neuropeptide systems to the amphetamine analogs methamphetamine (METH), methylene dioxyamphetamine (MDA), and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). These dmgs were selected for this study because they represent somewhat diverse mechanisms of action. While all three agents are able to enhance extrapyramidal serotonergic activity (Schmidt et al. 1987). only METH has been characterized as a substantial stimulant of the DA system. The effects of MDA and MDMA on extrapyramidal DA systems have not been well elucidated. Thus, evaluating and comparing the responses of the SP, NT, and Dyn extrapyramidal systems to these dmgs will help to determine the nature of the DA responses to METH, MDA, and MDMA administrations. 

Accumulation of amphetamine and / -chloroamphetamine into synaptosomes of rat brain. J Pharm Pharmacol 24 171-173, 1972. Yamamoto. B.K., and Spanos, L.J. The acute effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine on dopamine release in the awake-behaving rat. Eur J Pharmacol 148 195, 203, 1988. 

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or Ecstasy ) is an illicit drug used by young adults who attend rave dance parties in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere. The allure of MDMA is related to its unique psychoactive effects, which include amphetamine-like stimulant actions, coupled with feelings of increased emotional sensitivity and closeness to others.1-2 Epidemiological data indicate that MDMA misuse among children and adolescents is widespread in the U.S.3-4 In... 

Schmidt, C.J., Sullivan, C.K., and Fadayel, G.M., Blockade of striatal 5-hydroxytryptamine2 receptors reduces the increase in extracellular concentrations of dopamine produced by the amphetamine analogue 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, J. Neurochem. 62(4), 1382-1389, 1994. 

As it can be observed in Fig. 2, three out of the 16 investigated compounds, namely, heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and its metabolite 2-oxo, 3-hydroxy-LSD (O-H-LSD), were not detected in any wastewater sample. Two other target analytes, 6-acetyl morphine (6ACM) and A9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), were only present in influent wastewaters and with low detection frequencies. The most ubiquitous compounds, present in all influent and effluent wastewater samples analyzed, were the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine, and the amphetamine-like compounds ephedrine (EPH) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy). Cocaine, cocaethylene (CE, transesterification product of cocaine formed after the joint consumption of cocaine and ethanol), and morphine (MOR) were detected in all influent, but not in all effluent wastewaters (see Fig. 2). 

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