Volume 57, Issue 4 pp. 1008-1013
PAPER
TOXICOLOGY

Interaction of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and Methamphetamine During Metabolism by In Vitro Human Metabolic Enzymes and in Rats*

Kenji Kuwayama Ph.D.

Kenji Kuwayama Ph.D.

National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan.

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Kenji Tsujikawa Ph.D.

Kenji Tsujikawa Ph.D.

National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan.

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Hajime Miyaguchi Ph.D.

Hajime Miyaguchi Ph.D.

National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan.

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Tatsuyuki Kanamori Ph.D.

Tatsuyuki Kanamori Ph.D.

National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan.

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Yuko T. Iwata Ph.D.

Yuko T. Iwata Ph.D.

National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan.

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Hiroyuki Inoue Ph.D.

Hiroyuki Inoue Ph.D.

National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan.

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First published: 28 December 2011
Citations: 10
Additional information and reprint requests:
Kenji Kuwayama, Ph.D.
National Research Institute of Police Science
6-3-1 Kashiwanoha
Kashiwa
Chiba 277-0882
Japan
E-mail: [email protected]

Supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (21790616) from The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

Abstract

Abstract: Illicit amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) tablets commonly contain one or more active ingredients, which have hallucinogenic and/or stimulant effects. Because components such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (MA) in ATS tablets have similar chemical structures, they could be metabolized by common metabolic enzymes. To investigate potential metabolic interactions of ATS tablet components, we studied the in vitro metabolism of MDMA and MA using human metabolic enzymes. MDMA and MA were mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and mutually inhibited the production of their main metabolites. In vivo experiments were also performed using intravenous administration of MDMA, MA, or their mixture to rats. The plasma concentrations of MDMA and MA after co-administration were higher than those after administration of MDMA or MA alone. The results in this study imply that multiple components in ATS tablets can interact to mutually inhibit their metabolism and potentially enhance the toxicity of each component.

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