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The intriguing effects of ecstasy (MDMA) on cognitive function in mice subjected to a minimal traumatic brain injury (mTBI)

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Abstract

Rationale

The use of ecstasy (MDMA) among young adults has dramatically increased over the years. Since MDMA may impair the users' driving ability, the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident (MVA) is notably increased. Minimal traumatic brain injury (mTBI) a common consequence of MVAs—produces short- and long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments.

Objectives

To investigate the effects of an acute dose of MDMA in mice subjected to closed head mTBI.

Methods

Mice received 10 mg/kg MDMA 1 h prior to the induction of mTBI. Behavioral tests were conducted 7 and 30 days post-injury. In addition to the behavioral tests, phosphorylation of IGF-1R, ERK, and levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were measured.

Results

mTBI mice showed major cognitive impairments in all cognitive tests conducted. No additional impairments were seen if mTBI was preceded by one dose of MDMA. On the contrary, a beneficial effect was seen in these mice. The western blot analysis of TH revealed a significant decrease in the mTBI mice. These decreases were reversed in mice that were subjected to MDMA prior to the trauma.

Conclusions

The presence of MDMA at the time of mTBI minimizes the alteration of visual and spatial memory of the injured mice. The IGF-1R pathway was activated due to mTBI and MDMA but was not the main contributor to the cognitive improvements. MDMA administration inverted the TH decreases seen after injury. We believe this may be the major cause of the cognitive improvements seen in these mice.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported (in part) by a grant from the Dr. Herman Schauder Endownment Fund for Research and by a grant from The Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Center for the Biology of Addictive Diseases, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Role of funding source

None declared.

Contributors

Shahaf Edut and Chaim Pick designed the study and wrote the protocol, as well as designed the behavioral experiments and contributed to the interpretations of the results. Shahaf Edut managed the literature searches and analyses. Shahaf Edut and Vardit Rubovitch undertook the statistical analysis, and Shahaf Edut wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to and have approved the final manuscript.

Conflict of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Shahaf Edut, Vardit Rubovitch & Chaim G. Pick

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, & Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Shaul Schreiber

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  1. Shahaf Edut
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Correspondence to Chaim G. Pick.

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Edut, S., Rubovitch, V., Schreiber, S. et al. The intriguing effects of ecstasy (MDMA) on cognitive function in mice subjected to a minimal traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Psychopharmacology 214, 877–889 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-2098-y

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