3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in adult rats produces deficits in path integration and spatial reference memory.
BACKGROUND
+/-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a recreational drug that causes cognitive deficits in humans. A rat model for learning and memory deficits has not been established, although some cognitive deficits have been reported.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with MDMA (15 mg/kg x 4 doses) or saline (SAL) (n = 20/treatment group) and tested in different learning paradigms: 1) path integration in the Cincinnati water maze (CWM), 2) spatial learning in the Morris water maze (MWM), and 3) novel object recognition (NOR). One week after drug administration, testing began in the CWM, then four phases of MWM, and finally NOR. Following behavioral testing, monoamine levels were assessed.


RESULTS
+/-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-treated rats committed more CWM errors than did SAL-treated rats. +/-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-treated animals were further from the former platform position during each 30-second MWM probe trial but showed no differences during learning trials with the platform present. There were no group differences in NOR. +/-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine depleted serotonin in all brain regions and dopamine in the striatum.


CONCLUSIONS
+/-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine produced MWM reference memory deficits even after complex learning in the CWM, where deficits in path integration learning occurred. Assessment of path integration may provide a sensitive index of MDMA-induced learning deficits.
Able
Jessica A
JA
Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Gudelsky
Gary A
GA
Vorhees
Charles V
CV
Williams
Michael T
MT
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D006213:Hallucinogens; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine