complishes this is by down-regulating the receptors on the dendrites. This process makes over-worked receptors retreat into the cell membrane of the dendrites. When this happens there, it is another cause of depression associated with MDMA. These down-regulated receptors are not necessarily up regulated when serotonin returns to normal, causing a lack of binding sites for the serotonin and a lack of its normal effects (Sferios). However, it should be noted also that up and down regulatory marking is not necessarily caused by MDMA as the body also, by genetics, can undergo this process to balance the flow and uptake of serotonin, so as not to damage the dendrites.Toxicity is defined as, “a substance’s ability to disturb the physiological balance of an organism to such a degree that the organism can no longer be considered healthy” (Aertes). The two types of toxicity that are important to understand concerning MDMA are acute systematic toxicity and neurotoxicity.The effects on the organism being highly visible define acute systemic toxicity. There have been many animal studies that display possible acute systemic effects. The first studies were performed in Michigan University where the L50 (dose at which 50% of the animal die) doses were tested on guinea pigs, mongrel dogs, and monkeys. The L50 doses showed that MDMA is almost 2 to 6 times as deadly as drugs like mescaline. Some symptoms associated with high doses of MDMA in the tested monkeys were “lack of movement control, convulsions, muscle rigidity and tremors, vomiting and difficulties with breathing” (Aertes). There are further, more serious systemic toxicity effects displayed in humans. (Note: Because of the inability to perform truly accurate testing of human subjects, most of the following symptoms are highly anecdotal.) “Cardiovascular stimulation, bronchodilation, mydriasis, hypodipsia, respiratory stimulation and hyperthermia”...
