Loud noise enhances nigrostriatal dopamine toxicity induced by MDMA in mice.
Marco Gesi, Michela Ferrucci, Mario Giusiani, Paola Lenzi, Gloria Lazzeri, Maria G Alessandrì, Alessandra Salvadorini, Federica Fulceri, Antonio Pellegrini, Francesco Fornai, Antonio Paparelli
Microscopy research and technique July 1, 2004 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20084 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | C57/Black mice |
| Interventions | MDMA White noise exposure |
| Dose | 7.5 mg/kg x4, 2 hours apart, i.p. |
| Measures | Dopamine levels, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | Exposure to loud white noise (100 dBA) for at least 6 hours markedly enhanced MDMA-induced striatal dopamine toxicity in mice, indicated by reduced dopamine levels, loss of tyrosine hydroxylase, and increased GFAP immunoreactivity. |
Abstract
The neurotoxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) has been intensely investigated due to the widespread abuse of this drug and its neurotoxic effects. In mice, MDMA neurotoxicity has been demonstrated for striatal dopamine (DA) terminals. However, the current literature has reported great variability in the effects induced by MDMA; this is partially due to changes in environmental conditions. For instance, elevated temperature and a crowded noisy environment markedly increase the neurotoxic effects induced by MDMA. The environmental factor loud noise is often present during ecstasy intake; however, only a few studies have analysed the consequence of a concomitant exposure to loud noise and ecstasy intake. In the present experimental work, we investigated whether nigrostriatal DA toxicity occurring after MDMA administration was potentiated in the presence of loud noise (100 dBA). We administered MDMA to C57/Black mice using a "binging" pattern for two durations of white noise exposure. We found a marked enhancement of MDMA toxicity (7.5 mg/Kg x4, 2 hours apart, i.p.) in the presence of white noise exposure lasting for at least 6 hours. The striatal damage was assessed by assaying DA levels as well as the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the increase in striatal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry. Since loud noise often accompanies ecstasy intake, the present findings call for more in-depth studies aimed at disclosing the fine mechanisms underlying this enhancement.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Neurotoxicity of MDMA: Main effects and mechanisms. Experimental Neurology October 1, 2021
- Age-dependent (+)MDMA-mediated Neurotoxicity in Mice Neurotoxicology July 6, 2005
- Of mice and men on MDMA: a translational comparison of the neuropsychobiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy'). Brain Research November 14, 2019
- Auditory stimuli enhance MDMA-conditioned reward and MDMA-induced nucleus accumbens dopamine, serotonin and locomotor responses. Brain Research Bulletin October 22, 2008
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