The Effect of 3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Expression of Neurotrophic Factors in Hippocampus of Male Rats

Overview

Journal Med J Islam Repub Iran

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2018 Feb 16

PMID 29445689

Citations 1

Authors

Sara Soleimani Asl

Mohamad Bakhtiar Hesam Shariati

Mehdi Medizadeh

Mohammad Ahmadpanah

Maryam Sohrabi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a chemical derivative of amphetamine that can induce learning and memory impairment. Due to the effect of neurotrophins on memory and learning, the impact of MDMA was evaluated on the brain - derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin- 4 (NT-4), and tropomyosin- related kinase B (Trk- β) expression in the hippocampus. In this study, 20 adult male Wistar rats (200-250 g) received saline (1 mL) or 10 mg/kg of MDMA intraperitoneally as single or multiple injection for 2 consecutive days per week for 2 months. Expression of BDNF, Trk-β, and NT4 were assessed using Western blotting and RT PCR methods. Our results revealed that the expression of BDNF, Trk- β, and NT4 proteins and genes significantly decreased in MDMA groups compared to the sham group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the acute group showed the lowest expression of these proteins. The results of the present study suggest that ecstasy administration may downregulate the expression of BDNF, Trk- β, and NT-4 in hippocampus, which is more extensive in case of acute treatment. It seems that in the chronic group, hippocampus was able to compensate the ecstasy- induced neurotoxicity.

Citing Articles

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) impairs the extinction and reconsolidation of fear memory in rats.

Hake H, Davis J, Wood R, Tanner M, Loetz E, Sanchez A Physiol Behav. 2018; 199:343-350.

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