title: The Role of The A2A Receptor in Cell Apoptosis Caused by MDMA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ecstasy, also known as 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a psychoactive recreational hallucinogenic substance and a major worldwide recreational drug. There are neurotoxic effects observed in laboratory animals and humans following MDMA use. MDMA causes apoptosis in neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). Withdrawal signs are attenuated by treatment with the adenosine receptor (A2A receptor). This study reports the effects of glutamyl cysteine synthetase (GCS), as an A2A receptor agonist, and succinylcholine (SCH), as an A2A receptor antagonist, on Sprague Dawley rats, both in the presence and absence of MDMA.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, we used seven groups of Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g each). Each group was treated with daily intraperitoneal (IP) injections for a period of one week, as follows: i. MDMA (10 mg/kg); ii. GCS (0.3 mg/kg); iii. SCH (0.3 mg/kg); iv. GCS + SCH (0.3 mg/kg each); v. MDMA (10 mg/kg) + GCS (0.3 mg/kg); vi. MDMA (10 mg/kg) + SCH (0.3 mg/kg); and vi. normal saline (1 cc/kg) as the sham group. Bax (apoptotic protein) and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic protein) expressions were evaluated by striatum using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in Bax protein expression in the MDMA+SCH group and a significant decrease in Bcl-2 protein expression in the MDMA+SCH group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A2A receptors have a role in the apoptotic effects of MDMA via the Bax and Bcl-2 pathways. An agonist of this receptor (GCS) decreases the cytotoxcity of MDMA, while the antagonist of this receptor (SCH) increases its cytotoxcity.
authors.affiliation: 1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansooreh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soleimani
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katebi
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohammadzadeh
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehdizadeh
keywords: Adenosine Receptor; Agonist of A2A Receptor; Antagonist of A2A Receptor; Ecstasy or MDMA; Neurotoxicity