Neurotoxicity and persistent cognitive deficits induced by combined MDMA and alcohol exposure in adolescent rats
Addiction Biology October 1, 2010 Vicente Hernández‐rabaza, Graciela Navarro‐mora, Clara Velázquez-sánchez et al. 40 citations
Adolescent rats repeatedly exposed to alcohol and MDMA (ecstasy) together showed lasting memory deficits, while either drug alone did not. The combination also reduced mature granule neurons in the dentate gyrus and increased reactive microglia, but did not affect the survival of new neurons or the structure of immature neurons. Memory impairment was linked to the loss of granule cells, not to changes in adult neurogenesis. The findings underscore the heightened risk of combining alcohol and MDMA during adolescence.