The Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus of Male Rats

Sara Soleimani Asl; Fahimeh Ghasemi Moravej; Golshad Kowsari; Mohammad Hassan Farhadi; Bagher Pourhaydar; Hatef Ghasemi Hamidabadi; Mehdi Mehdizadeh

doi:10.32598/bcn.9.10.420

The Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus of Male Rats

Basic Clin Neurosci. 2020 Jul-Aug;11(4):457-464. doi: 10.32598/bcn.9.10.420. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Authors

Sara Soleimani Asl¹, Fahimeh Ghasemi Moravej¹, Golshad Kowsari², Mohammad Hassan Farhadi³, Bagher Pourhaydar⁴, Hatef Ghasemi Hamidabadi⁵, Mehdi Mehdizadeh⁶

Affiliations

¹ Endometrium and Endometriosis Research Centre, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
² School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Researcher of Subsance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Department of Anatomy, Neurophysiology Research Center, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
⁵ Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
⁶ Department of Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: The administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ecstasy causes memory impairment, whereas neurogenesis improves memory and learning. Hence, this study evaluated the effects of MDMA on neurogenesis in the hippocampus of male rats.

Methods: Adult male Wistar rats received Intraperitoneal (IP) injections of MDMA (10 mg/ kg). We assessed nestin, sex-determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2), and NeuroD expressions according to the immunohistochemistry analyses.

Results: MDMA reduced the expressions of nestin, Sox2, and NeuroD compared with the control groups. The reduction in NeuroD expression was age-related.

Conclusion: MDMA possibly has negative effects on neurogenesis, which specifically results from impaired survival of newborn cells.

Keywords: Hippocampus; N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; Nestin; NeuroD Protein; Sox2 Protein.