Authors: Sunila G Nair Gary A Gudelsky
Publish Date: 2005/12/24
Volume: 184, Issue: 2, Pages: 182-189
Abstract
The neurochemical effects produced by acute administration of 34methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA on the monoaminergic systems in the brain are well documented however there has been little consideration of the potential effects of MDMA on other neurotransmitter systemsThe present study was designed to investigate the acute effect of MDMA on cholinergic neurons by measuring acetylcholine ACh release in the medial prefrontal cortex PFC and dorsal hippocampus terminal regions of cholinergic projection neurons originating in the basal forebrainThe systemic administration of MDMA 3–20 mg/kg ip resulted in an increased extracellular concentration of ACh in the PFC and dorsal hippocampus Reverse dialysis of MDMA 100 μM into the PFC and hippocampus also increased ACh release in these brain regions Treatment with parachlorophenylalanine and αmethylparatyrosine inhibitors of serotonin 5HT and dopamine DA synthesis respectively significantly attenuated the release of ACh stimulated by MDMA in the PFC but not in the dorsal hippocampusMDMA exerts a stimulatory effect on the release of ACh in the PFC and dorsal hippocampus in vivo possibly by mechanisms localized within these brain regions In addition these results suggest that the MDMAinduced release of ACh in the PFC involves both serotonergic and dopaminergic mechanisms
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