Effects of Stress and MDMA on Hippocampal Gene Expression
BioMed Research International January 1, 2014 Georg F. Weber, Bethann N. Johnson, Bryan K. Yamamoto et al. 19 citations
MDMA, a substituted amphetamine and recreational drug, can produce mood-enhancing short-term effects that may lead to its use under stress. Clinical studies suggest MDMA treatment might alleviate symptoms of stress disorders like PTSD, but repeated use causes lasting deficits in serotonergic nerve terminal markers, indicating possible neurotoxicity. Chronic stress worsens MDMA-induced serotonergic neurotoxicity. In rats, MDMA altered gene expression in the hippocampus related to protein folding and neuropeptide signaling. In stressed rats, MDMA changed genetic responses affecting sensory processing and tissue damage responses, and reversed stress-induced downregulation of circadian rhythm genes. These transcriptional changes accompany the drug's persistent effects on neuronal structure and function.