Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDMA), a synthetic substance commonly known as ecstasy, is a worldwide recreational drug of abuse. As MDMA and nicotine activate the same neuronal pathways, we examined the influence of co-administration of nicotine (0.05 mg/kg) and MDMA (1 mg/kg) on cognitive processes, nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization and on processes linked with oxidative stress and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expression in the brain of male Swiss mice. For behavioral study the passive avoidance (PA) test and locomotor sensitization paradigm were used. Also, the oxidative stress parameters as well as expression levels of α7 nAChRs in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of mice treated with MDMA alone or in combination with nicotine were assessed. The results revealed that MDMA injections as well as co-administrations of MDMA and nicotine improved memory consolidation in male Swiss mice tested in PA task. Furthermore, one of the main findings of the present study is that MDMA increased locomotor activity in nicotine-sensitized mice. Our study showed for the first time strong behavioral and biochemical interactions between nicotine and MDMA. Both drugs are very often used in combination, especially by young people, thus these results may help explaining why psychoactive substances are being co-abused and why this polydrug administration is still a social problem.
Highlights
3,4-Methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDMA), a synthetic substance well known as ecstasy, is a worldwide recreational drug of abuse
The first set of experiments showed that co-administrations of MDMA and nicotine improved memory consolidation in male Swiss mice tested in the passive avoidance (PA) task
It is well established that the cholinergic neurotransmission plays a pivotal function in the cognitive process and physiological concentration of ACh is very important for proper brain function in both human and rodents. (Knoppman, 2001)
Summary
3,4-Methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDMA), a synthetic substance well known as ecstasy, is a worldwide recreational drug of abuse. Such abuse results in fatal cases especially among young people. MDMA is a stimulant of the central nervous system (CNS) possesses hallucinogenic properties described as an increased sensory awareness (Morton, 2005; George et al, 2010). It induces neurotoxicity (Gonçalves et al, 2014). It is well established that MDMA by itself reduced the activity of serotonin (5-HT)
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