Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) Alters Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Causes Enduring Memory Deficits
Juan J. Canales, Agueda Ferrer-Donato
Developmental Neuroscience 2014 DOI: 10.1159/000356820 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Pregnant rats and their female offspring |
| Intervention | Alcohol |
| Duration | E13 through E15, twice daily; offspring assessed at 3 months of age |
| Measures | 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine labelling, doublecortin expression |
| Topics | MDMA Neuroplasticity |
| Key findings | Female rat offspring exposed prenatally to both alcohol and MDMA, but not to either drug alone, showed decreased exploratory activity and impaired working memory at 3 months, along with reduced neuronal precursor proliferation and adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. The authors state this is the first evidence that simultaneous alcohol and ecstasy use during pregnancy, even briefly, may cause significant neurocognitive developmental abnormalities. |
Abstract
Recreational drug use among pregnant women is a source of concern due to potential harmful effects of drug exposure on prenatal and infant development. The simultaneous abuse of ecstasy [3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)] and alcohol is prevalent among young adults, including young expectant mothers. Here, we used a rat model to study the potential risks associated with exposure to alcohol and MDMA during pregnancy. Pregnant rats received alcohol, MDMA, or both alcohol and MDMA by gavage at E13 through E15 twice daily. Female offspring treated prenatally with the combination of alcohol and MDMA, but not those exposed to either drug separately, showed at 3 months of age decreased exploratory activity and impaired working memory function. Prenatal treatment with the combination of alcohol and MDMA decreased proliferation of neuronal precursors in the adult dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, as measured by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine labelling, and adult neurogenesis, assessed by quantifying doublecortin expression. These results provide the first evidence that the simultaneous abuse of alcohol and ecstasy during pregnancy, even for short periods of time, may cause significant abnormalities in neurocognitive development.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on neuroplasticity, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through the activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors In vitro and in vivo (rodent) models | 2023 | Experimental study | |
| Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB Mice | 2023 | Experimental study | |
| Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning Mice | 2013 | Experimental study | |
| The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro Progenitor cells from subventricular and subgranular zones of adult mice brains | 2017 | In vitro experimental study | |
| N,N-dimethyltryptamine compound found in the hallucinogenic tea ayahuasca, regulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo Mice | 2020 | In vitro and in vivo experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and broader neuroplasticity: a systematic review. Mol Med December 19, 2024
- Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and brain plasticity: A systematic review bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) July 20, 2023
- A Systematic Review of the MDMA Model to Address Social Impairment in Autism. Current Neuropharmacology 2021
- Differential effects of MDMA and cocaine on inhibitory avoidance and object recognition tests in rodents. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory December 2017
Cites 13
- Neurobehavioral outcomes of infants exposed to MDMA (Ecstasy) and other recreational drugs during pregnancy Neurotoxicology and Teratology March 5, 2012
- Neurotoxicity and persistent cognitive deficits induced by combined MDMA and alcohol exposure in adolescent rats Addiction Biology October 1, 2010
- Ethanol increases the distribution of MDMA to the rat brain: possible implications in the ethanol-induced potentiation of the psychostimulant effects of MDMA The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology December 2, 2008
- Prenatal exposure to MDMA alters noradrenergic neurodevelopment in the rat. Neurotoxicology and Teratology 2012
- MDMA: interactions with other psychoactive drugs. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior October 2011
and 8 more in the library