title: Evaluation of Bcl-2 Family Gene Expression in Hippocampus of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine Treated Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an illicit, recreational drug that causes cellular death and neurotoxicity. This study evaluates the effects of different doses of MDMA on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and genes in the hippocampus of adult rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this expremental study,a total of 20 male Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g ) were treated with MDMA (0, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg i.p. twice daily) for 7 days. Seven days after the last administration of MDMA, the rats were killed. Bax and Bcl-2 genes in addition to protein expressions were detected by western blot and reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that MDMA caused dose dependent up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2 in the hippocampus. There was a significant alteration in bcl-2 and bax genes density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in apoptosis-related proteins and respective genes relating to Bax and Bcl-2 might be involved in the molecular mechanism of MDMA-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Anatomical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soleimani Asl
authors.forename: Mohammad Hassan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Farhadi
authors.forename: Kazem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moosavizadeh
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samadi Kuchak Saraei
authors.forename: Mansoure
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
authors.forename: Seid Behnameldin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Jamei
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Joghataei
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samzadeh-Kermani
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashemi-Nasl
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehdizadeh
keywords: 3, 4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); Apoptosis; Bax; Bcl-2