title: Prenatal 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) exposure induces long-term alterations in the dopaminergic and serotonergic functions in the rat.
abstract: We investigated several aspects of the dopaminergic and serotonergic functions throughout brain development in rats prenatally exposed to MDMA ("ecstasy"). Pregnant rats were treated with MDMA (10 mg/kg s.c.) or saline from the 13th to the 20th day of gestation and studies were conducted on the progeny from both groups: (i) quantification of whole brain contents of DA, 5-HT and metabolites from the 14th day of embryonic life (E14) to weaning (21st day of postnatal life, P21); (ii) quantification of DA and 5-HT membrane transporters by autoradiography from E18 to adult age (P70); (iii) measurement of pharmacologically induced release of DA and 5-HT using microdialysis on adult (P70) freely moving rats; (iv) measurement of sucrose preference in adults (P70). Prenatally MDMA-exposed rats showed (i) a two-fold decrease of whole brain levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA at P0; (ii) no effect on the DAT and SERT density; (iii) a strongly reduced pharmacologically induced release of DA and 5-HT at P70 in the striatum and hippocampus; and (iv) a significant 20% decrease in sucrose preference at P70. This study suggests that a prenatal exposure to MDMA induces transient and long-term neurochemical and behavioural modifications in dopaminergic and serotonergic functions.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U619, IFR135, Laboratoire de Biophysique Médicale and Pharmaceutique, Université François Rabelais des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, 31 avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galineau
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belzung
authors.forename: Ercem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kodas
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bodard
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guilloteau
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chalon
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity*; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001345:Autoradiography / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017551:Microdialysis / Q000379:methods; D009662:Nortropanes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014439:Tyramine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D004298:Dopamine; D005277:Fenfluramine; D006213:Hallucinogens; D006719:Homovanillic Acid; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009662:Nortropanes; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014439:Tyramine; C113010:N-(3-iodoprop-2-enyl)-2-beta-carbomethoxy-3-(4-methylphenyl)nortropane; C051800:3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine