TY - JOUR
T1 - Loud noise enhances nigrostriatal dopamine toxicity induced by MDMA in mice
AU - Gesi, Marco
AU - Ferrucci, Michela
AU - Giusiani, Mario
AU - Lenzi, Paola
AU - Lazzeri, Gloria
AU - Alessandri, Maria G.
AU - Salvadorini, Alessandra
AU - Fulceri, Federica
AU - Pellegrini, Antonio
AU - Fornai, Francesco
AU - Paparelli, Antonio
PY - 2004/7/1
Y1 - 2004/7/1
N2 - The neurotoxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) has been intensely investigated due to the widespread abuse of this drug and its neurotoxic effects. In mice, MDMA neurotoxicity has been demonstrated for striatal dopamine (DA) terminals. However, the current literature has reported great variability in the effects induced by MDMA; this is partially due to changes in environmental conditions. For instance, elevated temperature and a crowded noisy environment markedly increase the neurotoxic effects induced by MDMA. The environmental factor loud noise is often present during ecstasy intake; however, only a few studies have analysed the consequence of a concomitant exposure to loud noise and ecstasy intake. In the present experimental work, we investigated whether nigrostriatal DA toxicity occurring after MDMA administration was potentiated in the presence of loud noise (100 dBA). We administered MDMA to C57/Black mice using a "binging" pattern for two durations of white noise exposure. We found a marked enhancement of MDMA toxicity (7.5 mg/Kg × 4, 2 hours apart, i.p.) in the presence of white noise exposure lasting for at least 6 hours. The striatal damage was assessed by assaying DA levels as well as the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the increase in striatal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry. Since loud noise often accompanies ecstasy intake, the present findings call for more in-depth studies aimed at disclosing the fine mechanisms underlying this enhancement.
AB - The neurotoxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) has been intensely investigated due to the widespread abuse of this drug and its neurotoxic effects. In mice, MDMA neurotoxicity has been demonstrated for striatal dopamine (DA) terminals. However, the current literature has reported great variability in the effects induced by MDMA; this is partially due to changes in environmental conditions. For instance, elevated temperature and a crowded noisy environment markedly increase the neurotoxic effects induced by MDMA. The environmental factor loud noise is often present during ecstasy intake; however, only a few studies have analysed the consequence of a concomitant exposure to loud noise and ecstasy intake. In the present experimental work, we investigated whether nigrostriatal DA toxicity occurring after MDMA administration was potentiated in the presence of loud noise (100 dBA). We administered MDMA to C57/Black mice using a "binging" pattern for two durations of white noise exposure. We found a marked enhancement of MDMA toxicity (7.5 mg/Kg × 4, 2 hours apart, i.p.) in the presence of white noise exposure lasting for at least 6 hours. The striatal damage was assessed by assaying DA levels as well as the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the increase in striatal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry. Since loud noise often accompanies ecstasy intake, the present findings call for more in-depth studies aimed at disclosing the fine mechanisms underlying this enhancement.
KW - 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
KW - Ecstasy
KW - Neurotoxicity
KW - Noise stress
KW - Striatum
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U2 - 10.1002/jemt.20084
DO - 10.1002/jemt.20084
M3 - Article
C2 - 15481049
AN - SCOPUS:7544244925
VL - 64
SP - 297
EP - 303
JO - Microscopy Research and Technique
JF - Microscopy Research and Technique
SN - 1059-910X
IS - 4
ER -