title: Neuropeptide Y protects retinal neural cells against cell death induced by ecstasy.
abstract: Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; MDMA) has potent CNS stimulant effects. Besides the acute effects of MDMA, such as psychomotor activation, euphoria, decreased appetite, and hyperthermia, long-term damage of dopaminergic and serotonergic nerve terminals in multiple brain areas have also been reported. Although some studies have demonstrated that considerable amounts of MDMA reach the vitreous humor of the eye, and that serious visual consequences can result from MDMA consumption, the toxic effect of MDMA on the retina has not been completely elucidated. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is present in the CNS, including the retina. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of MDMA on rat retinal neural cell viability and investigate the involvement of 5-HT 2A-receptor (5-HT(2A)) activation. Moreover, the neuroprotective role of NPY on MDMA-induced toxicity was also investigated. MDMA induced necrosis [MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and propidium iodide assays] and apoptosis (immunoreactivity of cleaved caspase-3) in mixed cultures of retinal neural cells (neurons, macroglia and microglia), in a concentration-dependent manner. MDMA-induced toxicity was enhanced at higher temperature (40 degrees C) and was reduced by the 5HT(2A)-receptor antagonist, ketanserin (1 microM). Interestingly, necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by MDMA was inhibited by NPY (100 nM).
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alvaro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ambrósio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavadas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D007650:Ketanserin; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine