Neuroimagen y neurotoxicidad inducida por MDMA (éxtasis)

The increase in the use of ecstasy (MDMA) by young people has let to the study of short and long term effects on the CNS. The existence of serotonergic neurotoxicity has been demonstrated in the last decade. Recent animal studies, including primates, demonstrate and clinical findings suggest dopaminergic damage. Different neuroimaging techniques have contributed to these findings through the study in the different receptor systems involved both presynaptic and postsynaptic levels. The results are obtained from the most relevant studies of neurotoxicity by means of the different neuroimaging techniques (SPECT, PET, MRS, diffusion and perfusion MRI). Considerable evidence from different animal species, including primates, exists that MDMA produces both serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Recent evidence has been published which confirm this findings in humans.