Enzymatic–nonenzymatic cellular antioxidant defense systems response and immunohistochemical detection of MDMA, VMAT2, HSP70, and apoptosis as biomarkers for MDMA (Ecstasy) neurotoxicity
Irene Riezzo, Daniela Cerretani, Carmela Fiore, Stefania Bello, Fabio Centini, Stefano D’errico, Anna Ida Fiaschi, Giorgio Giorgi, Margherita Neri, Cristoforo Pomara, Emanuela Turillazzi, Vittorio Fineschi
Journal of Neuroscience Research October 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22245 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rat brain |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 20 mg/kg |
| Duration | 24 hours |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Neurotoxicity Striatum Pharmacology Antioxidant Dopamine Hippocampus Glutathione Endocrinology Biochemistry |
| Citations | 47 |
| Key findings | Acute MDMA administration rapidly reduces antioxidant defenses and induces oxidative stress and early neurotoxic markers in rat brain regions within 6 to 24 hours. |
Abstract
Abstract 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)‐induced neurotoxicity leads to the formation of quinone metabolities and hydroxyl radicals and then to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We evaluated the effect of a single dose of MDMA (20 mg/kg, i.p.) on the enzymatic and nonenzymatic cellular antioxidant defense system in different areas of rat brain in the early hours (<6 hr) of the administration itself, and we identified the morphological expressions of neurotoxicity induced by MDMA on the vulnerable brain areas in the first 24 hr. The acute administration of MDMA produces a decrease of reduced and oxidized glutathione ratio, and antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly reduced after 3 hr and after 6 hr in frontal cortex. Ascorbic acid levels strongly increased in striatum, hippocampus, and frontal cortex after 3 and 6 hr. High levels of malonaldehyde with respect to control were measured in striatum after 3 and 6 hr and in hippocampus and frontal cortex after 6 hr. An immunohistochemical investigation on the frontal, thalamic, hypothalamic, and striatal areas was performed. A strong positive reaction to the antivesicular monoamine transporter 2 was observed in the frontal section, in the basal ganglia and thalamus. Cortical positivity, located in the most superficial layer was revealed only for heat shock protein 70 after 24 hr. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphetamine-type central nervous system stimulants release norepinephrine more potently than they release dopamine and serotonin | 2000 | Experimental study | |
| Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) cause selective ablation of serotonergic axon terminals in forebrain: immunocytochemical evidence for neurotoxicity Rat brain | 1988 | Experimental study | |
| The molecular mechanism of "ecstasy" [3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)]: serotonin transporters are targets for MDMA-induced serotonin release. Human platelet plasma membrane vesicles and bovine adrenal chromaffin granule membrane... | 1992 | Laboratory study | |
| Oxytocin-dependent reopening of a social reward learning critical period with MDMA | 2019 | Experimental study | |
| Effects of certain hallucinogenic amphetamine analogs on the release of [3H]-serotonin from rat brain synaptosomes Rat whole brain synaptosomes | 1982 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- MDMA Increases Glutamate Release and Reduces Parvalbumin-Positive GABAergic Cells in the Dorsal Hippocampus of the Rat: Role of Cyclooxygenase Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology November 17, 2012
- Increased iNOS and Nitrosative Stress in Dopaminergic Neurons of MDMA-Exposed Rats International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 12, 2019
- Effects of Stress and MDMA on Hippocampal Gene Expression BioMed Research International 2014
- Glutathione as a Potential Neuroprotectant Against MDMA-Induced Oxidative Stress, Neuroinflammation, and Apoptosis in the Rat Brain. Neurochemical Research May 6, 2026
- Treadmill exercise attenuates 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced memory impairment through a decrease apoptosis in male rat hippocampus. Journal of Neuroscience Research May 11, 2017
and 5 more in the library
Cites 13
- Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1987
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) neurotoxicity in rats: a reappraisal of past and present findings Psychopharmacology March 15, 2006
- Neurotoxicity of MDMA and Related Compounds: Anatomic Studiesa Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences October 1, 1990
- Persistent MDMA‐induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in the striatum and substantia nigra of mice Journal of Neurochemistry September 24, 2008
- Damage of serotonergic axons and immunolocalization of Hsp27, Hsp72, and Hsp90 molecular chaperones after a single dose of MDMA administration in Dark Agouti rat: Temporal, spatial, and cellular patterns The Journal of Comparative Neurology 2006
and 8 more in the library