Monoamine neurotoxin
A monoamine neurotoxin, or monoaminergic neurotoxin, is a drug that selectively damages or destroys monoaminergic neurons. Monoaminergic neurons are neurons that signal via stimulation by monoamine neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Examples of monoamine neurotoxins include the serotonergic neurotoxins para-chloroamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine ; the dopaminergic neurotoxins oxidopamine, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, and methamphetamine; and the noradrenergic neurotoxins oxidopamine and N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine.
In the case of serotonergic neurotoxins like MDMA, research suggests that simultaneous induction of serotonin and dopamine release, serotonin depletion, dopamine uptake and metabolism, hyperthermia, oxidative stress and antioxidant depletion, and/or drug metabolites may all be involved in the neurotoxicity. On the other hand, there is evidence that drug metabolites may not be involved. Some research suggests that serotonergic neurotoxicity might represent neuroadaptive mechanisms rather than neuronal damage per se.
Dopaminergic neurotoxins can induce a Parkinson's disease-like condition in animals and humans. Serotonergic neurotoxins like MDMA have been associated with cognitive and memory deficits and psychiatric changes.
List of monoamine neurotoxins
Serotonergic neurotoxins
Phenethylamines
- 2,4-Dichloroamphetamine
- 2,4,5-Trihydroxyamphetamine
- 2,4,5-Trihydroxymethamphetamine
- 3-Chloroamphetamine
- 3,4-Dichloroamphetamine
- 3,4-Dihydroxyamphetamine
- 3,4-Dihydroxymethamphetamine
- 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine
- 3,4-Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
- 4-Chlorophenylisobutylamine
- 5-MAPB
- Fenfluramine
- Mephedrone
- Methamphetamine
- Methylbenzodioxolylbutanamine
- Methylone
- Norfenfluramine
- para-Bromoamphetamine
- para-Bromomethamphetamine
- para-Chloroamphetamine
- para-Chloromethamphetamine
- para-Iodoamphetamine
Tryptamines
- 4-Hydroxy-5-methoxytryptamine
- 4,5-Dihydroxytryptamine
- 5-MeO-DiPT
- 5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine
- 5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine
- 6,7-Dihydroxytryptamine
- α-Ethyltryptamine
2-Aminoindans
- 5-Iodo-2-aminoindane
- 5-Methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindane
- 5,6-Methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane
- N-Ethyl-5-trifluoromethyl-2-aminoindane
- 5-Trifluoromethyl-2-aminoindane
MPTP-related
Dopaminergic neurotoxins
Phenethylamines
- 2,4,5-Trihydroxyamphetamine
- 2,4,5-Trihydroxymethamphetamine
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
- 4-Methylmethamphetamine
- 6-Hydroxydopa
- 6-Hydroxydopamine quinone
- Amphetamine
- Mephedrone
- Methamphetamine
- Methcathinone
- Methylone
- Oxidopamine
Dopamine and metabolites
- 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde
- 5-S-Cysteinyldopamine
- DOPA quinone
- DOPAL quinone
- Dopamine
- Dopamine quinoneN-Methylnorsalsolinol
- Norsalsolinol
- Salsolinol
Tryptamines
MPTP-related
Pesticides
Others
Noradrenergic neurotoxins
Phenethylamines and related
- 2,4,5-Trihydroxyamphetamine
- 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine
- 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycolaldehyde
- 6-Hydroxydopa
- DSP-4
- Oxidopamine
- Xylamine
Tryptamines and related
MPTP-related
Unsorted or unknown
- 5-Hydroxyindoleacetaldehyde
- RHPP+
- RHPTP