Evidence that MDMA (‘ecstasy’) increases cannabinoid CB2 receptor expression in microglial cells: role in the neuroinflammatory response in rat brain
Journal of Neurochemistry January 12, 2010 Elisa Torres, María Dolores Gutiérrez‐lópez, Érika Borcel et al. 44 citations
The drug MDMA ('ecstasy') causes lasting damage to serotonin neurons in rats, partly through inflammation involving microglial activation and release of interleukin-1β. Cannabinoid CB2 receptors, which increase in microglia shortly after MDMA, can help control this inflammation. Giving rats a CB2 receptor agonist (JWH-015) before and after MDMA reduced microglial activation and interleukin-1β release, and slightly lessened the damage to serotonin neurons. Activating CB2 receptors thus partially protects against MDMA's neurotoxic effects.