3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy)-Induced Learning and Memory Impairments Depend on the Age of Exposure during Early Development
Harry W. Broening, Laronda L. Morford, Sandra L. Inman-Wood, Masao Fukumura, Charles V. Vorhees
Journal of Neuroscience May 1, 2001 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.21-09-03228.2001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Neonatal rats |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Duration | Exposure on days 1–10 or 11–20 |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | Offspring Dopamine Hallucinogen Developmental psychology |
| Citations | 141 |
| Key findings | MDMA exposure during the late third trimester equivalent causes dose-related impairments in sequential learning and spatial learning and memory in rats. |
Abstract
Use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) has increased dramatically in recent years, yet little is known about its effects on the developing brain. Neonatal rats were administered MDMA on days 1–10 or 11–20 (analogous to early and late human third trimester brain development). MDMA exposure had no effect on survival but did affect body weight gain during treatment. After treatment, body weight largely recovered to 90–95% of controls. MDMA exposure on days 11–20 resulted in dose-related impairments of sequential learning and spatial learning and memory, whereas neonatal rats exposed on days 1–10 showed almost no effects. At neither stage of exposure did MDMA-treated offspring show effects on swimming ability or cued learning. Brain region-specific dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine changes were small and were not correlated to learning changes. These findings suggest that MDMA may pose a previously unrecognized risk to the developing brain by inducing long-term deleterious effects on learning and memory.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 43
- Human psychopharmacology of Ecstasy (MDMA): a review of 15 years of empirical research Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental December 1, 2001
- Club drugs: methylenedioxymethamphetamine, flunitrazepam, ketamine hydrochloride, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy June 1, 2002
- Neurotoxicity of methylenedioxyamphetamines (MDMA; ecstasy) in humans: how strong is the evidence for persistent brain damage? Addiction February 27, 2006
- Neurotoxicity of drugs of abuse - the case of methylenedioxy amphetamines (MDMA, ecstasy ), and amphetamines Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience September 30, 2009
- Exposure to 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on postnatal days 11–20 induces reference but not working memory deficits in the Morris water maze in rats: implications of prior learning International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience August 1, 2004
and 38 more in the library
Cites 19
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- The substituted amphetamines 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methamphetamine, p-chloroamphetamine and fenfluramine induce 5-hydroxytryptamine release via a common mechanism blocked by fluoxetine and cocaine European Journal of Pharmacology May 1, 1992
and 14 more in the library