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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

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Published on: February 5, 2015
Neurotoxic effects of ecstasy on the thalamus
Maartje M L de Win1, Gerry Jager, Jan Booij
1Department of Radiology, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.m.dewin@amc.uva.nl
Background:
Neurotoxic effects of ecstasy have been reported, although it remains unclear whether effects can be attributed to ecstasy, other recreational drugs or a combination of these.
Aims:
To assess specific/independent neurotoxic effects of heavy ecstasy use and contributions of amphetamine, cocaine and cannabis as part of The Netherlands XTC Toxicity (NeXT) study.
Method:
Effects of ecstasy and other substances were assessed with (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, perfusion weighted imaging and [(123)I]2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-iodophenyl)-tropane ([(123)I]beta-CIT) single photon emission computed tomography (serotonin transporters) in a sample (n=71) with broad variation in drug use, using multiple regression analyses.
Results:
Ecstasy showed specific effects in the thalamus with decreased [(123)I]beta-CIT binding, suggesting serotonergic axonal damage; decreased fractional anisotropy, suggesting axonal loss; and increased cerebral blood volume probably caused by serotonin depletion. Ecstasy had no effect on brain metabolites and apparent diffusion coefficients.
Conclusions:
Converging evidence was found for a specific toxic effect of ecstasy on serotonergic axons in the thalamus.
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