Author/Authors :
Soleimani Asl، Sara نويسنده Department of Anatomical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran , , Farhadi، Mohammad Hassan نويسنده Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences,Tehran, Iran , , Moosavizadeh، Kazem نويسنده Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Samadi Kuchak Saraei، Ali نويسنده Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Soleimani، Mansoure نويسنده Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Behnameldin Jamei، Seid نويسنده Department of Anatomical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Joghataei، Mohammad Taghi نويسنده Department of Anatomy, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Samzadeh-Kermani، Alireza نويسنده Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Zabol University, Zabol, Iran , , Hashemi-Nasl، Hamed نويسنده Department of Anatomical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Mehdizadeh، Mehdi نويسنده ,
Abstract :
Objective: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an illicit, recreational drug
that causes cellular death and neurotoxicity. This study evaluates the effects of different
doses of MDMA on the expression of apoptosis–related proteins and genes in the hippocampus
of adult rats.
Materials and Methods: In this expremental study,a total of 20 male Sprague Dawley rats
(200-250 g ) were treated with MDMA (0, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg i.p. twice daily) for 7 days. Seven
days after the last administration of MDMA, the rats were killed. Bax and Bcl-2 genes
in addition to protein expressions were detected by western blot and reverse transcriptionpolymerase
chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and
p?0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Our results showed that MDMA caused dose dependent up-regulation of Bax
and down-regulation of Bcl-2 in the hippocampus. There was a significant alteration in
bcl-2 and bax genes density.
Conclusion: Changes in apoptosis-related proteins and respective genes relating to Bax
and Bcl-2 might be involved in the molecular mechanism of MDMA-induced apoptosis.
