Neuronal reorganization in adult rats neonatally exposed to (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
Toxicology Reports October 11, 2016 Michael T. Williams, Matthew R. Skelton, Ian D. Longacre et al. 3 citations
Rats given MDMA during a period of brain development equivalent to late human pregnancy showed lasting changes in brain cell structure. In the nucleus accumbens, dendrites were shorter with fewer spines. In the dentate gyrus, dendritic length decreased but spine density increased. In the entorhinal cortex, both basilar and apical dendritic lengths were reduced. These structural changes occurred in brain regions linked to learning and memory, matching previously observed cognitive deficits in MDMA-exposed animals.