4-Methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA) induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells independently of dopamine and noradrenaline transporters

• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2210-10-s1-a22
• Publication Date: 2010-11-16T19:16:53Z
• Authors: Therese Montgomery; Harald Sitte; Gethin McBean
• Keywords: Pharmacology; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Meeting Abstract; Pharmacology (medical); 3. Good health

Background 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) tablets are frequently contaminated by 4-MTA (‘flatliner’), an amphetamine derivative which is known to induce severe human intoxication and even death. Although an equipotent inducer of SERT-dependent 5-HT release in vivo, 4-MTA does not induce MDMAlike serotoninergic neurotoxicity in rats. Instead, 4-MTA users typically report unpleasant sympathomimetic effects such as tachycardia, tremors, stomach cramps, headache and sweating following ingestion. Here, for the first time we investigate the cytotoxic potency of 4-MTA in a catecholaminergic system.