The effect of 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine on expression of neurotrophic factors in hippocampus of male rats

3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a chemical derivative of amphetamine that can induce learning and memory impairment. Due to the effect of neurotrophins on memory and learning, the impact of MDMA was evaluated on the brain - derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin- 4 (NT-4), and tropomyosin- related kinase B (Trk- β) expression in the hippocampus.

In this study, 20 adult male Wistar rats (200-250 g) received saline (1 mL) or 10 mg/kg of MDMA intraperitoneally as single or multiple injection for 2 consecutive days per week for 2 months. Expression of BDNF, Trk-β, and NT4 were assessed using Western blotting and RT PCR methods.

Our results revealed that the expression of BDNF, Trk- β, and NT4 proteins and genes significantly decreased in MDMA groups compared to the sham group (p The results of the present study suggest that ecstasy administration may downregulate the expression of BDNF, Trk- β, and NT-4 in hippocampus, which is more extensive in case of acute treatment. It seems that in the chronic group, hippocampus was able to compensate the ecstasy- induced neurotoxicity.