Developmental effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine: a review
- 1 March 2008
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Behavioural Pharmacology
- Vol. 19 (2), 91-111
- https://doi.org/10.1097/fbp.0b013e3282f62c76
Abstract
±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a chemical derivative of amphetamine that has become a popular drug of abuse and has been shown to deplete serotonin in the brains of users and animals exposed to it. To date, most studies have investigated the effects of MDMA on adult animals. With a majority of users of MDMA being young adults, the chances of the users becoming pregnant and exposing the fetuses to MDMA are also a concern. Evidence to date has shown that developmental exposure to MDMA results in learning and memory impairments in the Morris water maze, a task known to be sensitive to hippocampal disruption, when the animals are tested as adults. Developmental MDMA exposure leads to hypoactivity in the offspring as adults but does not affect outcome on tests of anxiety. MDMA administration decreases pup weight, increases corticosterone and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels during treatment while decreasing brain levels of serotonin; a decrease that initially dissipates and then reappears in adulthood. Neonatal MDMA exposure increases the sensitivity of the serotonin 1A receptor, a possible mechanism underlying the learning and memory deficits seen. Taken together, the evidence shows that MDMA exposure has adverse effects on the developing brain and behavior. The animal and human data on developmental MDMA exposure are reviewed and their public health implications discussed.Keywords
This publication has 131 references indexed in Scilit:
- Short-term effects of 3,4-methylen-dioxy-metamphetamine (MDMA) on 5-HT1A receptors in the rat hippocampusNeurochemistry International, 2007
- Neonatal (+)-methamphetamine increases brain derived neurotrophic factor, but not nerve growth factor, during treatment and results in long-term spatial learning deficitsPsychoneuroendocrinology, 2007
- A developmental comparison of the neurobehavioral effects of ecstasy (MDMA)Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 2007
- Developmental effects of ±3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine on spatial versus path integration learning: Effects of dose distributionSynapse, 2007
- Extrapolating brain development from experimental species to humansNeuroToxicology, 2007
- Treatment with MDMA from P11–20 disrupts spatial learning and path integration learning in adolescent rats but only spatial learning in older ratsPsychopharmacology, 2006
- Morris water maze: procedures for assessing spatial and related forms of learning and memoryNature Protocols, 2006
- Comparison of monoamine and corticosterone levels 24 h following (+)methamphetamine, (+/–)3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine, cocaine, (+)fenfluramine or (+/–)methylphenidate administration in the neonatal ratJournal of Neurochemistry, 2006
- The acute effects of corticosteroids on cognition: integration of animal and human model studiesBrain Research Reviews, 1997
- Spatial localization does not require the presence of local cuesLearning and Motivation, 1981