Analysis of transcriptional responses in the mouse dorsal striatum following acute 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy): identification of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-controlled genes.
Julie Salzmann, C Canestrelli, Florence Noble, Cynthia Marie‐claire
Neuroscience 2006 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.09.019 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Intervention | SL327 |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | MDMA activates ERK in the dorsal striatum and alters expression of 27 genes, with 59% of these changes dependent on ERK activation, implicating these molecular changes in MDMA's behavioral effects. |
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), a widely used recreational drug with psychoactive properties, induces both serotonin and dopamine release in the brain. However, little is known about its intracellular effects. We previously showed that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine rewarding effects in mice were dependent upon extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and that dorsal striatum was a critical region for mediating extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent Egr1 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced transcription. Here, we extend these findings by showing that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine is indeed able to activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase within this structure. To identify genes regulated by acute 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in the mice dorsal striatum, and selectively controlled by this kinase, we performed microarray experiments by using a selective inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation, SL327. Of the approximately 24,000 genes from the microarray, 27 showed altered expression after exposure to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and among these, 59% were partially or totally inhibited by SL327 pretreatment. Our results showed that the genes regulated by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine encode proteins that belong to transcription factors family, signaling pathways (phosphatases, cytoskeleton regulation), and synaptic functions. These early changes, and especially those controlled by extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation might play significant roles in the expression of many of the behaviors that occur following 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine taking.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Effects of Stress and MDMA on Hippocampal Gene Expression BioMed Research International 2014
- Of mice and men on MDMA: a translational comparison of the neuropsychobiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy'). Brain Research November 14, 2019
- Identification of post-generation effect of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on the mouse brain by large-scale gene expression analysis. Toxicology Letters February 24, 2010
- Transcriptomic configuration of mouse brain induced by adolescent exposure to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology May 15, 2009
- Characteristics of dual specificity phosphatases mRNA regulation by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine acute treatment in mice striatum. Brain Research November 6, 2008
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