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Joan Stephenson, PhD

JAMA. 2007;298(19):2254.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Anorexia nervosa and the appetite-suppressing "club drug" ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) activate some of the same brain pathways, according to research in mice by French scientists (Jean A. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007;104[41]:16335-16340).

The nucleus accumbens (one of the brain's reward centers) contains high concentrations of 5-HT₄ receptors, a subset of receptors for serotonin. The researchers found that stimulating 5-HT₄ receptors reduced the animals' drive to eat and increased activity of a gene that encodes a satiety peptide that is known to be stimulated in response to cocaine and amphetamines. In contrast, blocking serotonin 5-HT₄ receptors increased the animals' food intake.

Some of the same brain pathways are activated by anorexia nervosa and the appetite-suppressing "club drug" ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine). (Photo: US Drug Enforcement Administration)

In addition, mice lacking 5-HT₄ receptors that were given ecstasy were less sensitive to the drug's anorectic effects, suggesting suppression of . . . [Full Text of this Article]