MDMA (Ecstasy) controls in concert a group of genes involved in GABA neurotransmission.
Rabi Simantov, Weiping Peng
FEBS Letters April 9, 2004 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(04)00256-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | MDMA-treated mice |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key points | MDMA treatment in mice altered expression of GABA transporters and synaptotagmins I and IV, and reduced mRNAs encoding septin and dystrophin. The authors propose that these four protein groups, though from different gene families, converge on GABA neurotransmission and that MDMA may regulate them in a combined fashion, assigning GABA a pivotal role in MDMA's effects. |
Abstract
In several countries, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is currently the most abundant psychoactive recreational drug. MDMA induces numerous neuropsychiatric behaviors, serotonergic neuron degeneration, programmed death of cultured cells, hyperthermia and occasional fatality. Using gene expression analysis in MDMA-treated mice, we identified changes in gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) transporters and synaptotagmins I and IV. Additional experiments showed decreases in mRNAs encoding septin and dystrophin. Although belonging to different gene families, it is striking that these four protein groups are implicated in neurotransmission of GABA, a major inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in thermoregulation. MDMA may control these genes in a combined fashion, assigning GABA a pivotal role in MDMA activities.
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Psychedelics in Psychiatry: Neuroplastic, Immunomodulatory, and Neurotransmitter Mechanisms Pharmacological Reviews December 16, 2020
- MDMA in humans: factors which affect the neuropsychobiological profiles of recreational ecstasy users, the integrative role of bioenergetic stress Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2006
- MDMA and the Brain: A Short Review on the Role of Neurotransmitters in Neurotoxicity. Basic and clinical neuroscience 2020
- Of mice and men on MDMA: a translational comparison of the neuropsychobiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy'). Brain Research November 14, 2019
- MDMA: interactions with other psychoactive drugs. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior October 2011
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