Selective reduction of striatal type II glucocorticoid receptors in rats by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
M T Lowy, J F Nash, Herbert Y. Meltzer
European Journal of Pharmacology April 12, 1989 DOI: 10.1016/0014-2999(89)90411-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 20 mg/kg |
| Duration | Seven days following injection |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | Seven days after a single 20 mg/kg MDMA dose, rats showed decreased serotonin and 5-HIAA in hippocampus, frontal cortex, and striatum, and decreased type II glucocorticoid receptors in the striatum only. Because basal serum corticosterone did not differ between groups, the authors propose the striatal receptor decrease may occur via a corticosterone-independent mechanism. |
Abstract
A single 20 mg/kg dose of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) administered to rats markedly decreased serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in hippocampus, frontal cortex and striatum seven days following injection. MDMA also significantly decreased type II glucocorticoid receptor levels in the striatum, but not in hippocampus or frontal cortex. Since no difference in basal serum corticosterone levels was observed between the two groups, MDMA may decrease striatal type II glucocorticoid receptors via a corticosterone-independent mechanism.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Developmental 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) impairs sequential and spatial but not cued learning independent of growth, litter effects or injection stress Brain Research March 25, 2003
- Chronic 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine administration decreases glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor, but increases 5-hydroxytryptamine1C receptor gene expression in the rat hippocampus. Neuroscience July 1994
Cites 4
- Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) cause selective ablation of serotonergic axon terminals in forebrain: immunocytochemical evidence for neurotoxicity Journal of Neuroscience August 1, 1988
- Elevation of serum prolactin and corticosterone concentrations in the rat after the administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics June 1, 1988
- Immediate and long-term effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on serotonin pathways in brain of rat. Neuropharmacology December 1987
- Biochemical and histological evidence that methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) is toxic to neurons in the rat brain. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics April 1, 1987