Preprotachykinin A gene expression after administration of 3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy).
This study tested the effects of 8 days of subchronic administration of 3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (5 mg/kg b.w.) on preprotachykinin A mRNA levels in discrete rat brain regions. In situ hybridization examined preprotachykinin A mRNA levels in the core and shell of the nucleus accumbens, the islands of Calleja, the olfactory tubercle, the dorsal and ventral caudate-putamen, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the medial preoptic area, the medial habenular nucleus and in the postero-dorsal part of the medial amygdala. Higher levels of preprotachykinin A mRNA were found in the core and shell of the nucleus accumbens, in the islands of calleja, in the olfactory tubercle, in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, in the medial habenular nucleus and the postero-dorsal part of the medial amygdala, compared to control animals. Conversely, increased preprotachykinin A mRNA levels were observed in the dorsal and ventral caudate-putamen in MDMA treated when compared to control rats. In the social memory test, MDMA significantly impaired rats' short-term working memory. These results show that chronic exposure to MDMA strongly affects preprotachykinin A mRNA levels in discrete rat brain regions. These changes occur in experimental conditions in which working memory is markedly reduced, suggesting that changes in gene expression of tachykinin mechanisms may contribute to the effects of MDMA on memory function.
Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Scalzino 3, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy. pete.pompei@unicam.it
Pierluigi
P
Pompei
Elena
E
Cavazzuti
Daniele
D
Martarelli
Dario
D
Pediconi
Rossana
R
Arletti
Louis
L
Lucas
Maurizio
M
Massi
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D006213:Hallucinogens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015320:Tachykinins; C044206:preprotachykinin; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine