3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) impairs cognitive function during withdrawal via activation of the arachidonic acid cascade in the hippocampus.
Drug and alcohol dependence April 1, 2024 Yoko Nawata, Tsuyoshi Nishioku, Tsuneyuki Yamamoto et al. 2 citations
Repeated administration of MDMA (10 mg/kg daily for 7 days) to mice impaired their recognition memory during withdrawal, as measured by a novel object recognition task. This impairment was prevented by co-administration of diclofenac, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Prostaglandin E2 levels increased in the hippocampus on the first day of withdrawal, but not in the prefrontal cortex or striatum. The findings suggest that activation of the arachidonic acid cascade, particularly in the hippocampus, contributes to recognition memory deficits during MDMA withdrawal. Co-use of cyclooxygenase inhibitors with MDMA may reduce concerns about MDMA-induced memory impairment.