MDMA (Ecstasy) decreases the number of neurons and stem cells in embryonic cortical cultures.
Anna M S Kindlundh-Högberg, Chris Pickering, Grzegorz Wicher, David Hobér, Helgi B Schiöth, Asa Fex Svenningsen
Cellular and molecular neurobiology January 2010 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-009-9426-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Laboratory study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Dissociated CNS cortex cells from rat embryos (E17) |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 100, 200, and 400 microM |
| Duration | 5 days after single exposure |
| Measures | nestin-positive cell density, NeuN-positive cell density, qPCR mRNA expression |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key points | MDMA caused a dose-dependent decrease in nestin-positive stem cells and reduced NeuN-positive neurons at 400 micromolar. It also altered mRNA expression of neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, indicating potential neurodevelopmental toxicity. |
Abstract
Ecstasy, 3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine (MDMA), is a recreational drug used among adolescents, including young pregnant women. MDMA passes the placental barrier and may therefore influence fetal development. The aim was to investigate the direct effect of MDMA on cortical cells using dissociated CNS cortex of rat embryos, E17. The primary culture was exposed to a single dose of MDMA and collected 5 days later. MDMA caused a dramatic, dose-dependent (100 and 400 microM) decrease in nestin-positive stem cell density, as well as a significant reduction (400 microM) in NeuN-positive cells. By qPCR, MDMA (200 microM) caused a significant decrease in mRNA expression of the 5HT3 receptor, dopamine D(1) receptor, and glutamate transporter EAAT2-1, as well as an increase in mRNA levels of the NMDA NR1 receptor subunit and the 5HT(1A) receptor. In conclusion, MDMA caused a marked reduction in stem cells and neurons in embryonic cortical primary cell cultures, which was accompanied by changes in mRNA expression of specific receptors and transporters for glutamatergic and monoaminergic neurotransmitters.
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 3
- MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine) Drug Addiction Mechanisms in the Brain April 8, 2024
- Involvement of autophagy upregulation in 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('ecstasy')-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology January 2016
- Toxicity of ecstasy (MDMA) towards embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac and neural cells. Toxicology in Vitro June 2010
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- Extensive neuroadaptive changes in cortical gene-transcript expressions of the glutamate system in response to repeated intermittent MDMA administration in adolescent rats BMC Neuroscience April 17, 2008
- Repeated intermittent MDMA binges reduce DAT density in mice and SERT density in rats in reward regions of the adolescent brain. Neurotoxicology November 2007
- Ecstasy induces apoptosis via 5-HT(2A)-receptor stimulation in cortical neurons. Neurotoxicology July 2007
and 9 more in the library