MDMA (Ecstasy) controls in concert a group of genes involved in GABA neurotransmission

FEBS Letters

Simantov, Rabi¹  Peng, Weiping¹ 

[1] Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel

关键词: Gene profiling;    Psychoactive compound;    Transporter;    Serotonin;    Drug abuse;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0014-5793(04)00256-X

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

In several countries, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is currently the most abundant psychoactive recreational drug. MDMA induces numerous neuropsychiatric behaviors, serotonergic neuron degeneration, programmed death of cultured cells, hyperthermia and occasional fatality. Using gene expression analysis in MDMA-treated mice, we identified changes in γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) transporters and synaptotagmins I and IV. Additional experiments showed decreases in mRNAs encoding septin and dystrophin. Although belonging to different gene families, it is striking that these four protein groups are implicated in neurotransmission of GABA, a major inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in thermoregulation. MDMA may control these genes in a combined fashion, assigning GABA a pivotal role in MDMA activities.

【 授权许可】

Unknown