Neuroscience 2002 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 809.16 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Long-Term Reorganization of Forebrain Serotonergic Innervation Following Neonatal MDMA (Ecstasy) Treatment. |
| Authors: |
Meyer, J. S.*1
; Johnson, K. E.1
; Nagelschmidt, C. L.1
1Neuroscience & Behavior Program, Univ Massachusetts, Amherst, MA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions - Addiction and Drugs of Abuse -- Amphetamines |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions<br />- Neurotoxicity<br />-- Toxic metabolic effects and disorders |
| Session: |
809. Addiction and drugs of abuse: amphetamines V Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Wednesday, November 6, 2002 4:00 PM-5:00 PM |
| Location: | Hall A2-B3 Z-82 |
| Keywords: | development, neurotoxicity, serotonin transporter, rats |
We previously reported that treatment of neonatal rats with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) led to decreased serotonin transporter (SERT) binding in the neocortex and hippocampus at postnatal day (PD) 60 (Meyer and Ali, SFN, 2001). The present study used immunohistochemistry for the serotonin transporter (SERT) with quantitative image analysis to investigate the long-term consequences of neonatal MDMA exposure for the serotonergic system. Male rats (n=12/group) were given s.c. injections of 10 mg/kg (±)-MDMA or saline vehicle b.i.d. from PD 1 - PD 4. At 9 months of age, the animals were anesthetized and perfused transcardially, 40-μm parasagittal sections were cut, and the sections were processed for SERT immunohistochemistry (Vector Elite kit) followed by silver-gold intensification of the diaminobenzidine reaction product. Gray-level thresholding was used to assess the percent area covered by SERT-immunoreactive fibers in 10 different forebrain regions. All measurements were made by a rater blind to the animal's treatment condition. In the MDMA-treated rats, SERT-immunoreactive fiber density was significantly decreased in the primary visual and somatosensory cortices, and was increased in the dorsal caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens shell. No changes were found in the frontal cortex, stratum oriens or stratum lacunosum-moleculare of hippocampal CA3 or CA1, or the lateral hypothalamus. These results demonstrate a long-lasting reorganization of forebrain serotonergic innervation patterns following developmental MDMA exposure. The functional consequences of such reorganization remain to be determined.
Supported by Faculty Research Grant from UMass
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2002 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Orlando, FL: Society for Neuroscience, 2002. Online.
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