MDMA (Ecstasy) controls in concert a group of genes involved in GABA neurotransmission.
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.
Simantov
Rabi
R
Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel. rabi.simantov@weizmann.ac.il
Peng
Weiping
W
D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005796:Genes; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000187:drug effects*
D006213:Hallucinogens; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine