Examining the Role of Oxytocinergic Signaling and Neuroinflammatory Markers in the Therapeutic Effects of MDMA in a Rat Model for PTSD.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) June 27, 2024 Haron Avgana, Roni Shira Toledano, Irit Akirav 8 citations
MDMA treatment facilitated fear extinction and reduced shock-induced freezing and social deficits in a rat model of PTSD. Shock exposure altered oxytocin receptor gene expression and caused neuroinflammation in the medial prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala, which MDMA restored. An oxytocin receptor antagonist blocked MDMA's effects on extinction and freezing, indicating that oxytocinergic signaling mediates these therapeutic actions.