Neuronal reorganization in adult rats neonatally exposed to (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Michael T. Williams, Matthew R. Skelton, Ian D. Longacre, Kimberly N. Huggins, Amanda M. Maple, Charles V. Vorhees, Russell W. Brown
Toxicology Reports October 11, 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2014.08.018 via DOAJ
Summary
Rats given MDMA during a period of brain development equivalent to late human pregnancy showed lasting changes in brain cell structure. In the nucleus accumbens, dendrites were shorter with fewer spines. In the dentate gyrus, dendritic length decreased but spine density increased. In the entorhinal cortex, both basilar and apical dendritic lengths were reduced. These structural changes occurred in brain regions linked to learning and memory, matching previously observed cognitive deficits in MDMA-exposed animals.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Keywords | Development Golgi–cox staining Dentate gyrus Entorhinal cortex |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key finding | Developmental MDMA exposure in rats caused long-lasting changes in neuronal architecture, including shorter dendrites and altered spine density in the nucleus accumbens, dentate gyrus, and entorhinal cortex. |
Abstract
The abuse of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) during pregnancy is of concern. MDMA treatment of rats during a period of brain growth analogous to late human gestation leads to neurochemical and behavioral changes. MDMA from postnatal day (P)11–20 in rats produces reductions in serotonin and deficits in spatial and route-based navigation. In this experiment we examined the impact of MDMA from P11 to P20 (20 mg/kg twice daily, 8 h apart) on neuronal architecture. Golgi impregnated sections showed significant changes. In the nucleus accumbens, the dendrites were shorter with fewer spines, whereas in the dentate gyrus the dendritic length was decreased but with more spines, and for the entorhinal cortex, reductions in basilar and apical dendritic lengths in MDMA animals compared with saline animals were seen. The data show that neuronal cytoarchitectural changes are long-lasting following developmental MDMA exposure and are in regions consistent with the learning and memory deficits observed in such animals.