Exposure to MDMA induces autophagy upregulation in cultured serotonergic neurons.
Inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA protects serotonergic neurons against neurite degeneration and neuronal death.
Serotonin transporter may mediated MDMA-induced neurotoxicity through modulating autophagy activity.
Specific modulation of autophagy might be a novel neuroprotective strategy to attenuate MDMA-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity.