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Casanovas M, Reyes-Resina I, Lillo A, Lillo J, López-Arnau R, Camarasa J, Escubedo E, Navarro G, Franco R. Methamphetamine Blocks Adenosine A 2A Receptor Activation via Sigma 1 and Cannabinoid CB 1 Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2743. [PMID: 33803075 PMCID: PMC7963146 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methamphetamine is, worldwide, one of the most consumed drugs of abuse. One important side effect is neurodegeneration leading to a decrease in life expectancy. The aim of this paper was to check whether the drug affects one of the receptors involved in neurodegeneration/neuroprotection events, namely the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR). First, we noticed that methamphetamine does not affect A2A functionality if the receptor is expressed in a heterologous system. However, A2AR becomes sensitive to the drug upon complexes formation with the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) and the sigma 1 receptor (σ1R). Signaling via both adenosine A2AR and cannabinoid CB1R was affected by methamphetamine in cells co-expressing the two receptors. In striatal primary cultures, the A2AR-CB1R heteromer complex was detected and methamphetamine not only altered its expression but completely blocked the A2AR- and the CB1R-mediated activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In conclusion, methamphetamine, with the participation of σ1R, alters the expression and function of two interacting receptors, A2AR, which is a therapeutic target for neuroprotection, and CB1R, which is the most abundant G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Casanovas
- Biology School, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.C.); (I.R.-R.); (J.L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Reyes-Resina
- Biology School, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.C.); (I.R.-R.); (J.L.)
| | - Alejandro Lillo
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Jaume Lillo
- Biology School, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.C.); (I.R.-R.); (J.L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raul López-Arnau
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.L.-A.); (J.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Jorge Camarasa
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.L.-A.); (J.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Elena Escubedo
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.L.-A.); (J.C.); (E.E.)
| | - Gemma Navarro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Rafael Franco
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Chemistry School, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Jîtcă G, Ősz BE, Tero-Vescan A, Vari CE. Psychoactive Drugs-From Chemical Structure to Oxidative Stress Related to Dopaminergic Neurotransmission. A Review. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:381. [PMID: 33806320 PMCID: PMC8000782 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10030381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, more and more young people want to experience illegal, psychoactive substances, without knowing the risks of exposure. Besides affecting social life, psychoactive substances also have an important effect on consumer health. We summarized and analyzed the published literature data with reference to the mechanism of free radical generation and the link between chemical structure and oxidative stress related to dopaminergic neurotransmission. This review presents data on the physicochemical properties, on the ability to cross the blood brain barrier, the chemical structure activity relationship (SAR), and possible mechanisms by which neuronal injuries occur due to oxidative stress as a result of drug abuse such as "bath salts", amphetamines, or cocaine. The mechanisms of action of ingested compounds or their metabolites involve intermediate steps in which free radicals are generated. The brain is strongly affected by the consumption of such substances, facilitating the induction of neurodegenerative diseases. It can be concluded that neurotoxicity is associated with drug abuse. Dependence and oxidative stress are linked to inhibition of neurogenesis and the onset of neuronal death. Understanding the pathological mechanisms following oxidative attack can be a starting point in the development of new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Jîtcă
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania; (G.J.); (C.E.V.)
| | - Bianca E. Ősz
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania; (G.J.); (C.E.V.)
| | - Amelia Tero-Vescan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania;
| | - Camil E. Vari
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania; (G.J.); (C.E.V.)
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Aguilar MA, García-Pardo MP, Parrott AC. Of mice and men on MDMA: A translational comparison of the neuropsychobiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy'). Brain Res 2020; 1727:146556. [PMID: 31734398 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
MDMA (3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine), also known as Ecstasy, is a stimulant drug recreationally used by young adults usually in dance clubs and raves. Acute MDMA administration increases serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline by reversing the action of the monoamine transporters. In this work, we review the studies carried out over the last 30 years on the neuropsychobiological effects of MDMA in humans and mice and summarise the current knowledge. The two species differ with respect to the neurochemical consequences of chronic MDMA, since it preferentially induces serotonergic dysfunction in humans and dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice. However, MDMA alters brain structure and function and induces hormonal, psychomotor, neurocognitive, psychosocial and psychiatric outcomes in both species, as well as physically damaging and teratogen effects. Pharmacological and genetic studies in mice have increased our knowledge of the neurochemical substrate of the multiple effects of MDMA. Future work in this area may contribute to developing pharmacological treatments for MDMA-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Aguilar
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain.
| | | | - Andrew C Parrott
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia
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Abad S, Ramon-Duaso C, López-Arnau R, Folch J, Pubill D, Camarasa J, Camins A, Escubedo E. Effects of MDMA on neuroplasticity, amyloid burden and phospho-tau expression in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:1170-1182. [PMID: 31219369 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119855987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is still one of the most consumed drugs by adolescents. Its abuse is related with cognitive impairment, which seems due to maladaptive plasticity and neural stress. In turn, new hypotheses suggest that Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be promoted by neural stressors. AIMS AND METHODS To test if there is an increase in vulnerability to AD after chronic MDMA consumption, we investigated the effects of this drug on recognition memory and its neurotoxic and neuroplastic effects in a transgenic mouse model of presymptomatic familiar AD (APP/PS1 dE9, Tg). RESULTS MDMA-treated animals showed recognition memory deficits, regardless of genotype, which were accompanied by changes in plasticity markers. Tg mice showed an impaired expression of Arc compared with wild-type animals, but exposure to MDMA induced an increase in the expression of this factor of the same percentage in both genotypes. However, the expression of c-fos, BDNF and p-CREB was not significantly altered by MDMA treatment in Tg mice. Although Tg mice had higher free choline levels than wild-type mice (about 123%), MDMA did not modify these levels in any case, ruling out any specific effect of this drug on the acetylcholine pathway. MDMA treatment significantly increased the presence of cortical amyloid plaques, as well as Aβ40, Aβ42 and secreted APPβ levels in Tg mice. These plaques were accompanied by increased tau phosphorylation (S199), which does not seem to occur via the canonic pathway involving AKT, CDK5 or GSK3β. CONCLUSIONS The present results support previous evidences that MDMA can contribute to the amyloid cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Abad
- Unitat de Farmacologia I Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Institut de Biomedicina IBUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Ramon-Duaso
- Unitat de Farmacologia I Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Institut de Biomedicina IBUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl López-Arnau
- Unitat de Farmacologia I Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Institut de Biomedicina IBUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Folch
- Unitat de Bioquimica i Biotecnología, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain.,Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Pubill
- Unitat de Farmacologia I Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Institut de Biomedicina IBUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Camarasa
- Unitat de Farmacologia I Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Institut de Biomedicina IBUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Camins
- Unitat de Farmacologia I Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Institut de Biomedicina IBUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centros de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Escubedo
- Unitat de Farmacologia I Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Institut de Biomedicina IBUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Effects of MDPV on dopamine transporter regulation in male rats. Comparison with cocaine. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:925-938. [PMID: 30284596 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5052-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone) is a synthetic cathinone present in bath salts. It is a powerful psychostimulant and blocker of the dopamine transporter (DAT), like cocaine. It is known that acute exposure to psychostimulants induces rapid changes in DAT function. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of MDPV on DAT function comparing with cocaine. METHODS Binding of [3H]WIN 35428 was performed on PC 12 cells treated with MDPV and washed. Rat striatal synaptosomes were incubated with MDPV or cocaine (1 μM) for 1 h and [3H]dopamine (DA) uptake was performed. Also, different treatments with MDPV or cocaine were performed in Sprague-Dawley rats to assess locomotor activity and ex vivo [3H]DA uptake. RESULTS MDPV increased surface [3H]WIN 35428 binding on PC 12 cells. In vitro incubation of synaptosomes with MDPV produced significant increases in Vmax and KM for [3H]DA uptake. In synaptosomes from MDPV- (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.) and cocaine- (30 mg/kg, i.p.) treated rats, there was a significantly higher and more persistent increase in [3H]DA uptake in the case of MDPV than cocaine. Repeated doses of MDPV developed tolerance to this DAT upregulation and 24 h after the 5-day treatment with MDPV, [3H]DA uptake was reduced. However, a challenge with the same drugs after withdrawal recovered the DAT upregulation by both drugs and showed an increased response to MDPV vs the first dose. At the same time, animals were sensitized to the stereotypies induced by both psychostimulants. CONCLUSIONS MDPV induces a rapid and reversible functional upregulation of DAT more powerfully and lasting than cocaine.
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Shih JH, Chiu CH, Ma KH, Huang YS, Shiue CY, Yeh TY, Kao LT, Lin YY, Li IH. Autophagy inhibition plays a protective role against 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced loss of serotonin transporters and depressive-like behaviors in rats. Pharmacol Res 2019; 142:283-293. [PMID: 30826457 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular recreational drug, which ultimately leads to serotonergic (5-HT) neurotoxicity and psychiatric disorders. Previous in vitro studies have consistently demonstrated that MDMA provokes autophagic activation, as well as damage of 5-HT axons and nerve fibers. So far, whether autophagy, a well-conserved cellular process that is critical for cell fate, also participates in MDMA-induced neurotoxicity in vivo remains elusive. Here, we first examined time-course of autophagy-related changes during repeated administration of MDMA (10 mg/kg s.c. twice daily for 4 consecutive days) using immunofluorescent staining for tryptophan hydroxylase and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta in rats. We also evaluated the protective effects of 3-methyadanine (3-MA, an autophagy inhibitor, 15 mg/kg i.p.) against MDMA-induced acute and long-term reductions in serotonin transporters (SERT) density in various brain regions using immunohistochemical staining and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging respectively. Plasma corticosterone measurements and forced swim tests were performed to evaluate the depressive performance. The staining results showed that repeated administration of MDMA increased expression of autophagosome and caused reduction in SERT densities of striatum and frontal cortex, which was ameliorated in the presence of 3-MA. PET imaging data also revealed that 3-MA could ameliorate MDMA-induced long-term decreased SERT availability in various brain regions of rats. Furthermore, immobility time of forced swim tests and plasma corticosterone levels were less in the group of MDMA co-injected with 3-MA compared with that of MDMA group. Together, these findings suggest that autophagy inhibition may confer protection against neurobiological and behavioral changes induced by MDMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Hu Shih
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chuang-Hsin Chiu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Hsing Ma
- Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuahn-Sieh Huang
- Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chyng-Yann Shiue
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yin Yeh
- Department of Biology and Anatomy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Ting Kao
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yang-Yi Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - I-Hsun Li
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
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7
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Garton DR, Ross SG, Maldonado-Hernández R, Quick M, Lasalde-Dominicci JA, Lizardi-Ortiz JE. Amphetamine enantiomers inhibit homomeric α7 nicotinic receptor through a competitive mechanism and within the intoxication levels in humans. Neuropharmacology 2018; 144:172-183. [PMID: 30359640 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are the second most consumed illicit drug worldwide and lack good treatments for associated substance use disorders, lagging behind other addictive drugs. For this reason, a deeper understanding of the pharmacodynamics of ATS is required. The present study seeks to determine amphetamine (AMPH) enantiomers' effects on the homomeric α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR). Here we have shown that AMPH enantiomers bind to the α7 nAChR and competitively inhibit acetylcholine responses. Our in silico docking analysis suggests that AMPH binds close to the β7 strand of the B-loop of a chimera comprising of the human α7 nAChR and the acetylcholine binding protein from Lymnaea stagnalis. This may inhibit the required movement of the C-loop for channel opening, due to steric hindrance, providing a structural mechanism for its antagonist effect. Finally, we have shown that, in α7 nAChR full knockout mice, the behavioral response to D-AMPH is attenuated, providing direct evidence for the role of α7 nAChRs on the physiological response to D-AMPH. Importantly, D-AMPH exerts these effects at concentrations predicted to be pharmacologically relevant for chronic methamphetamine users and during binges. In conclusion, our data present new findings that implicate the α7 nAChR on the pharmacodynamics of ATS, which may be important for behavioral responses to these drugs, indicating a potential role for α7 nAChRs in ATS substance-use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Garton
- Columbia College of Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Sharmaine G Ross
- Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | | | - Matthias Quick
- Department of Psychiatry, Molecular Therapeutics Division, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - José A Lasalde-Dominicci
- Departments of Biology and Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR, 00931, USA; Molecular Sciences Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, 00927, USA
| | - José E Lizardi-Ortiz
- Molecular Sciences Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, 00927, USA; Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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8
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Budzynska B, Wnorowski A, Kaszubska K, Biala G, Kruk-Słomka M, Kurzepa J, Boguszewska-Czubara A. Acute MDMA and Nicotine Co-administration: Behavioral Effects and Oxidative Stress Processes in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:149. [PMID: 30116179 PMCID: PMC6082960 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Budzynska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Artur Wnorowski
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kaszubska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Grazyna Biala
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Marta Kruk-Słomka
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jacek Kurzepa
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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9
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Abad S, Ramon C, Pubill D, Camarasa J, Camins A, Escubedo E. Adolescent exposure to MDMA induces dopaminergic toxicity in substantia nigra and potentiates the amyloid plaque deposition in the striatum of APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2016; 1862:1815-26. [PMID: 27344237 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2016.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
MDMA is one of the most used drugs by adolescents and its consumption has been associated with many psychobiological problems, among them psychomotor problems. Moreover, some authors described that early exposure to MDMA may render the dopaminergic neurons more vulnerable to the effects of future neurotoxic insults. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia in the elderly and a percentage of the patients have predisposition to suffer nigrostriatal alterations, developing extrapyramidal signs. Nigrostriatal dysfunction in the brain of aged APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1), a mouse model of familiar AD (FAD), has also been described. The aim of the present study was to investigate the consequences of adolescent exposure to MDMA in APP/PS1 mice, on nigrostriatal function on early adulthood. We used a MDMA schedule simulating weekend binge abuse of this substance. Our MDMA schedule produced a genotype-independent decrease in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra that remained at least 3months. Shortly after the injury, wild-type animals showed a decrease in the locomotor activity and apparent DA depletion in striatum, however in the APP/PS1 mice neither the locomotor activity nor the DA levels were modified, but a reduction in dopamine transporter (DAT) expression and a higher levels of oxidative stress were observed. We found that these disturbances are age-related characteristics that this APP/PS1 mice develops spontaneously much later. Therefore, MDMA administration seems to anticipate the striatal dopaminergic dysfunction in this FAD model. The most important outcome lies in a potentiation, by MDMA, of the amyloid beta deposition in the striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Abad
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Biomedicine Institute, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Spain
| | - Carla Ramon
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Biomedicine Institute, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Spain
| | - David Pubill
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Biomedicine Institute, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Spain
| | - Jorge Camarasa
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Biomedicine Institute, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Spain
| | - Antonio Camins
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Biomedicine Institute, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Spain; Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
| | - Elena Escubedo
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Biomedicine Institute, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Spain
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Frau L, Costa G, Porceddu PF, Khairnar A, Castelli MP, Ennas MG, Madeddu C, Wardas J, Morelli M. Influence of caffeine on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neuron degeneration and neuroinflammation is age-dependent. J Neurochem 2015; 136:148-62. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Frau
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Section of Neuropsychopharmacology; University of Cagliari; Cagliari Italy
| | - Giulia Costa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Section of Neuropsychopharmacology; University of Cagliari; Cagliari Italy
| | - Pier Francesca Porceddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Section of Neuropsychopharmacology; University of Cagliari; Cagliari Italy
| | - Amit Khairnar
- Applied Neuroscience Research Group; CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Maria Paola Castelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology; University of Cagliari; Monserrato (CA) Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Ennas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology; University of Cagliari; Monserrato (CA) Italy
| | - Camilla Madeddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology; University of Cagliari; Monserrato (CA) Italy
| | - Jadwiga Wardas
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology; Institute of Pharmacology; Polish Academy of Sciences; Krakow Poland
| | - Micaela Morelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Section of Neuropsychopharmacology; University of Cagliari; Cagliari Italy
- CNR; Institute of Neuroscience; Cagliari Italy
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11
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López-Arnau R, Martínez-Clemente J, Rodrigo T, Pubill D, Camarasa J, Escubedo E. Neuronal changes and oxidative stress in adolescent rats after repeated exposure to mephedrone. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2015; 286:27-35. [PMID: 25817894 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2015.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mephedrone is a new designer drug of abuse. We have investigated the neurochemical/enzymatic changes after mephedrone administration to adolescent rats (3×25 mg/kg, s.c. in a day, with a 2 h interval between doses, for two days) at high ambient temperature (26±2 °C), a schedule that intends to model human recreational abuse. In addition, we have studied the effect of mephedrone in spatial learning and memory. The drug caused a transient decrease in weight gain. After the first dose, animals showed hypothermia but, after the subsequent doses, temperature raised over the values of saline-treated group. We observed the development of tolerance to these thermoregulatory effects of mephedrone. Mephedrone induced a reduction of the densities of dopamine (30% in the frontal cortex) and serotonin (40% in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus and 48% in the striatum) transporters without microgliosis. These deficits were also accompanied by a parallel decrease in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase 2. These changes matched with a down-regulation of D2 dopamine receptors in the striatum. Mephedrone also induced an oxidative stress evidenced by an increase of lipid peroxidation in the frontal cortex, and accompanied by a rise in glutathione peroxidase levels in all studied brain areas. Drug-treated animals displayed an impairment of the reference memory in the Morris water maze one week beyond the cessation of drug exposure, while the spatial learning process seems to be preserved. These findings raise concerns about the neuronal long-term effects of mephedrone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl López-Arnau
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Martínez-Clemente
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Rodrigo
- Animal Experimentation Unit of Psychology and Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Pubill
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Camarasa
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Elena Escubedo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain
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Nogueira T, da Costa Araújo S, Carvalho F, Pereira F, Fernandes E, Bastos M, Costa V, Capela J. Modeling chronic brain exposure to amphetamines using primary rat neuronal cortical cultures. Neuroscience 2014; 277:417-34. [PMID: 25047998 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Protracted treatment with MDMA induces heteromeric nicotinic receptor up-regulation in the rat brain: an autoradiography study. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 53:1-8. [PMID: 24614096 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies indicate that 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) can induce a heteromeric nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR, mainly of α4β2 subtype) up-regulation. In this study we treated male Sprague-Dawley rats twice-daily for 10 days with either saline or MDMA (7 mg/kg) and sacrificed them the day after to perform [(125)I]Epibatidine binding autoradiograms on serial coronal slices. MDMA induced significant increases in nAChR density in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, anterior caudate-putamen, somatosensory, motor, auditory and retrosplenial cortex, laterodorsal thalamus nuclei, amygdala, postsubiculum and pontine nuclei. These increases ranged from 3% (retrosplenial cortex) to 30 and 34% (amygdala and substantia nigra). No increased α4 subunit immunoreactivity was found in up-regulated areas compared with saline-treated rats, suggesting a post-translational mechanism as occurs with nicotine. The heteromeric nAChR up-regulation in certain areas could account, at least in part, for the reinforcing, sensitizing and psychiatric disorders observed after long-term consumption of MDMA.
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Effects of long-term exposure of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy") on neuronal transmitter transport, brain immuno-regulatory systems and progression of experimental periodontitis in rats. Neurochem Int 2014; 72:30-6. [PMID: 24726767 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Revised: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the effects of long-term exposure (4 weeks) to the widely used narcotic drug and putative neurotoxicant 3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy") on neuronal transmitter transport and progression of experimental periodontitis in male Wistar rats. The rats were exposed to MDMA (10mg/kg/day i.p.) or saline five days a week for four consecutive weeks. Exposure to MDMA induced a significant reduction in the synaptosomal reuptake of serotonin, while the uptake of dopamine was significantly increased 24h after the last injection of MDMA. In contrast, the synaptosomal uptake of noradrenaline and the vesicular uptake through the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 were not affected. In the experiments of periodontitis development, ligature-induced periodontitis was induced three days prior to MDMA administration. Compared to controls, MDMA-treated rats developed significantly more periodontitis. In conclusion, our results show that long-term exposure to MDMA affects the serotonergic and dopaminergic transport systems in the rat brain and increased the susceptibility to the psychosomatic ailment periodontitis following disturbances of brain immune-regulatory systems. These results are interesting with respect to recent research showing that changes in neurotransmitter signalling may alter the reactivity of brain-controlled immunoregulatory systems controlling pathogenic microorganisms colonizing mucosal surfaces.
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Costa G, Frau L, Wardas J, Pinna A, Plumitallo A, Morelli M. MPTP-induced dopamine neuron degeneration and glia activation is potentiated in MDMA-pretreated mice. Mov Disord 2013; 28:1957-65. [PMID: 24108425 DOI: 10.1002/mds.25646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Revised: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical observations report a greater propensity to develop Parkinson's disease (PD) in amphetamine users. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy") is an amphetamine-related drug that is largely consumed by adolescents and young adults, which may have neuroinflammatory and neurotoxic effects. Here, the objective was to evaluate in mice whether consumption of MDMA during adolescence might influence the neuroinflammatory and neurotoxic effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a toxin known to induce PD in humans. The activation of astroglia and microglia by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and complement receptor type 3 (CD11b) immunohistochemistry and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry were evaluated. MPTP (20 mg/kg × 4) was administered to mice treated from ages 8 weeks to 17 weeks with MDMA (10 mg/kg twice daily, two times a week). In mice that were chronically treated with MDMA, administration of MPTP induced a higher microglial and astroglial response in both the striatum and the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) compared with vehicle-treated or vehicle + MPTP-treated mice. Inflammatory changes were associated with a decrease in TH immunoreactivity in the SNc of MDMA-treated mice and with a further decrease in the striatum and the SNc of MDMA + MPTP-treated mice compared with vehicle-treated, MDMA-treated, and MPTP-treated mice. The results demonstrate that chronic administration of MDMA during late adolescence in mice exacerbates the neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation caused by MPTP, suggesting that MDMA may constitute a risk factor for dopaminergic neuron degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Costa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Ciudad-Roberts A, Camarasa J, Pubill D, Escubedo E. Heteromeric nicotinic receptors are involved in the sensitization and addictive properties of MDMA in mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2013; 44:201-9. [PMID: 23466442 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We have investigated the effect of nicotinic receptor ligands in the behavioral sensitization (hyperlocomotion) and rewarding properties (conditioned place preference paradigm, CPP) of 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) in mice. Each animal received intraperitoneal pretreatment with either saline, dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE, 1 mg/kg) or varenicline (VAR, 0.3 mg/kg), 15 min prior to subcutaneous saline or MDMA (5 mg/kg), for 10 consecutive days. On day 1, both DHβE and VAR inhibited the MDMA-induced hyperlocomotion. After 10 days of treatment, MDMA induced a hyperlocomotion that was not reduced (rather enhanced) in antagonist-pretreated animals. This early hyperlocomotion was accompanied by a significant increase in heteromeric nicotinic receptors in cortex that was not blocked by DHβE or VAR. Behavioral sensitization to MDMA was highest 2 weeks after the discontinuation of MDMA treatment. This additional increase in sensitivity was prevented in animals pretreated with DHβE or VAR. At this time, MDMA-treated mice showed a significant increase in heteromeric receptors in cortex that was prevented by DHβE and VAR. An involvement of α7 nicotinic receptors in this effect is ruled out. MDMA (10 mg/kg) induced positive CPP that was abolished by DHβE (2 mg/kg) and VAR (2 mg/kg). Moreover, chronic nicotine pretreatment (2 mg/kg, ip, b.i.d., for 14 days) caused MDMA, administered at a low dose (3 mg/kg), to induce CPP, which would otherwise not occur. Finally, present results point out that heteromeric nicotinic receptors are involved in locomotor sensitization and addictive potential induced by MDMA. Thus, varenicline might be a useful drug to treat both tobacco and MDMA abuse at once.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Ciudad-Roberts
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section), Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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López-Arnau R, Martínez-Clemente J, Pubill D, Escubedo E, Camarasa J. Comparative neuropharmacology of three psychostimulant cathinone derivatives: butylone, mephedrone and methylone. Br J Pharmacol 2013; 167:407-20. [PMID: 22509960 DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2012.01998.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Here, we have compared the neurochemical profile of three new cathinones, butylone, mephedrone and methylone, in terms of their potential to inhibit plasmalemmal and vesicular monoamine transporters. Their interaction with 5-HT and dopamine receptors and their psychostimulant effect was also studied. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Locomotor activity was recorded in mice following different doses of cathinones. Monoamine uptake assays were performed in purified rat synaptosomes. Radioligand-binding assays were carried out to assess the affinity of these compounds for monoamine transporters or receptors. KEY RESULTS Butylone, mephedrone and methylone (5-25 mg·kg(-1) ) caused hyperlocomotion, which was prevented with ketanserin or haloperidol. Methylone was the most potent compound inhibiting both [(3) H]5-HT and [(3) H]dopamine uptake with IC(50) values that correlate with its affinity for dopamine and 5-HT transporter. Mephedrone was found to be the cathinone derivative with highest affinity for vesicular monoamine transporter-2 causing the inhibition of dopamine uptake. The affinity of cathinones for 5-HT(2A) receptors was similar to that of MDMA. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Butylone and methylone induced hyperlocomotion through activating 5-HT(2A) receptors and increasing extra-cellular dopamine. They inhibited 5-HT and dopamine uptake by competing with substrate. Methylone was the most potent 5-HT and dopamine uptake inhibitor and its effect partly persisted after withdrawal. Mephedrone-induced hyperlocomotion was dependent on endogenous 5-HT. Vesicular content played a key role in the effect of mephedrone, especially for 5-HT uptake inhibition. The potency of mephedrone in inhibiting noradrenaline uptake suggests a sympathetic effect of this cathinone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul López-Arnau
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Pubill D, Garcia-Ratés S, Camarasa J, Escubedo E. 3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine induces in vivo regional up-regulation of central nicotinic receptors in rats and potentiates the regulatory effects of nicotine on these receptors. Neurotoxicology 2012; 35:41-9. [PMID: 23261423 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 11/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine (NIC), the main psychostimulant compound of smoked tobacco, exerts its effects through activation of central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), which become up-regulated after chronic administration. Recent work has demonstrated that the recreational drug 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) has affinity for nAChR and also induces up-regulation of nAChR in PC 12 cells. Tobacco and MDMA are often consumed together. In the present work we studied the in vivo effect of a classic chronic dosing schedule of MDMA in rats, alone or combined with a chronic schedule of NIC, on the density of nAChR and on serotonin reuptake transporters. MDMA induced significant decreases in [(3)H]paroxetine binding in the cortex and hippocampus measured 24h after the last dose and these decreases were not modified by the association with NIC. In the prefrontal cortex, NIC and MDMA each induced significant increases in [(3)H]epibatidine binding (29.5 and 34.6%, respectively) with respect to saline-treated rats, and these increases were significantly potentiated (up to 72.1%) when the two drugs were associated. Also in this area, [(3)H]methyllycaconitine binding was increased a 42.1% with NIC+MDMA but not when they were given alone. In the hippocampus, MDMA potentiated the α7 regulatory effects of NIC (raising a 25.5% increase to 52.5%) but alone was devoid of effect. MDMA had no effect on heteromeric nAChR in striatum and a coronal section of the midbrain containing superior colliculi, geniculate nuclei, substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Specific immunoprecipitation of solubilised receptors suggests that the up-regulated heteromeric nAChRs contain α4 and β2 subunits. Western blots with specific α4 and α7 antibodies showed no significant differences between the groups, indicating that, as reported for nicotine, up-regulation caused by MDMA is due to post-translational events rather than increased receptor synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pubill
- Unitat de Farmacologia i Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Nucli Universitari de Pedralbes, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut de Biomedicina de la UB (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Camarasa J, Rodrigo T, Pubill D, Escubedo E. Memory impairment induced by amphetamine derivatives in laboratory animals and in humans: a review. Biomol Concepts 2012; 3:1-12. [DOI: 10.1515/bmc.2011.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2011] [Accepted: 10/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe 20th century brought with it the so-called club drugs (the most notorious being amphetamine derivatives), which are used by young adults at all-night dance parties. Methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) are synthetic drugs with stimulant and psychoactive properties that belong to the amphetamine family. Here, we have reviewed the literature about the cognitive impairment induced by these two amphetamine derivatives and the preclinical and clinical outcomes. Although there is controversial evidence about the effect of methamphetamine and MDMA on learning and memory in laboratory animals, results from published papers demonstrate that amphetamines cause long-term impairment of cognitive functions. A large number of pharmacological receptors have been studied and screened as targets of amphetamine-induced cognitive dysfunction, and extensive research efforts have been invested to provide evidence about the molecular mechanisms behind these cognitive deficits. In humans, there is a considerable body of evidence indicating that methamphetamine and MDMA seriously disrupt memory and learning processes. Although an association between the impairments of memory performance and a history of recreational amphetamine ingestion has also been corroborated, a number of methodological difficulties continue to hamper research in this field, the most important being the concomitant use of other illicit drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Camarasa
- 1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Rodrigo
- 2Animal Experimentation Unit, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, E-08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Pubill
- 1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Escubedo
- 1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic Chemistry (Pharmacology Section) and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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Pubill D, Garcia-Ratés S, Camarasa J, Escubedo E. Neuronal Nicotinic Receptors as New Targets for Amphetamine-Induced Oxidative Damage and Neurotoxicity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2011. [PMCID: PMC4055958 DOI: 10.3390/ph4060822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphetamine derivatives such as methamphetamine (METH) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) are widely abused drugs in a recreational context. This has led to concern because of the evidence that they are neurotoxic in animal models and cognitive impairments have been described in heavy abusers. The main targets of these drugs are plasmalemmal and vesicular monoamine transporters, leading to reverse transport and increased monoamine efflux to the synapse. As far as neurotoxicity is concerned, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production seems to be one of the main causes. Recent research has demonstrated that blockade of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) inhibits METH- and MDMA-induced ROS production in striatal synaptosomes which is dependent on calcium and on NO-synthase activation. Moreover, α7 nAChR antagonists (methyllycaconitine and memantine) attenuated in vivo the neurotoxicity induced by METH and MDMA, and memantine prevented the cognitive impairment induced by these drugs. Radioligand binding experiments demonstrated that both drugs have affinity to α7 and heteromeric nAChR, with MDMA showing lower Ki values, while fluorescence calcium experiments indicated that MDMA behaves as a partial agonist on α7 and as an antagonist on heteromeric nAChR. Sustained Ca increase led to calpain and caspase-3 activation. In addition, modulatory effects of MDMA on α7 and heteromeric nAChR populations have been found.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pubill
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: ; Tel.: +34-93-402-4531; Fax: +34-93-403-5982
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Kuo CS, Chai SC, Chen HH. Mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus is critical for the expression of memory of methamphetamine-produced conditioned place preference in rats. Neuroscience 2011; 178:138-46. [PMID: 21256933 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Revised: 12/07/2010] [Accepted: 12/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is a powerful and highly addictive psychostimulant. However, the neural substrate mediating MA-induced conditioned effects, an essential part of addiction, remain unclear. The present study investigated the involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the lateral nucleus of amygdala (LNA), and the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus (MD) in MA-conditioned place preference (CPP). Rats underwent bilateral radio-frequency lesions of the ACC, LNA, or MD followed by MA CPP training. Lesions of the MD, but not the ACC or LNA, disrupted MA CPP learning. To clarify the role of the MD on the different stages of the MA CPP memory process, bilateral microinfusions of lidocaine into the MD were performed 5 min prior to each conditioning trial, immediately after the conditioning trial, or 5 min before the testing phase. Pretesting, but not pre- or post-conditioning, infusions of lidocaine into the MD impaired MA CPP. Furthermore, a clear preference for the previously conditioned MA paired cues was expressed when the rats were tested again 24 h after infusions of lidocaine. These results are interpreted as indicating that the MD is specifically involved in the memory retrieval process of MA associated memory which suggests the MD could have an important role in relapse in individuals suffering from MA addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-S Kuo
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Tzu Chi University, 701, Section 3, Chung-Yang Road, Hualien, 970 Taiwan, ROC
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Escubedo E, Abad S, Torres I, Camarasa J, Pubill D. Comparative neurochemical profile of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its metabolite alpha-methyldopamine on key targets of MDMA neurotoxicity. Neurochem Int 2011; 58:92-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2010.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2010] [Revised: 08/31/2010] [Accepted: 11/03/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Camarasa J, Ros C, Pubill D, Escubedo E. Tumour necrosis factor alpha suppression by MDMA is mediated by peripheral heteromeric nicotinic receptors. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 2010; 32:265-71. [PMID: 20105082 DOI: 10.3109/08923970903295104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
MDMA is an illegal drug widely used by young people. The present study aimed to determine the involvement of different nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes in the suppressive effect of MDMA in TNF-alpha production. Dihydrobetaerythroidine (antagonist of heteromeric nAChR), and hexamethonium (antagonist of peripheral nAChR), fully antagonized the effect of MDMA. Conversely, methyllycaconitine (antagonist of homomeric nAChR), did not modify it. From in vitro experiments, a direct effect was ruled out. In this study we provide the first evidence that in rodents MDMA impairs the production of TNF-alpha by activation of heteromeric nAChR expressing beta-2 subunits located in the periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Camarasa
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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The effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on nicotinic receptors: Intracellular calcium increase, calpain/caspase 3 activation, and functional upregulation. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2010; 244:344-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2010.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2009] [Revised: 01/25/2010] [Accepted: 01/26/2010] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Decreased glutathione levels and altered antioxidant defense in an animal model of schizophrenia: Long-term effects of perinatal phencyclidine administration. Neuropharmacology 2010; 58:739-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2009] [Revised: 12/11/2009] [Accepted: 12/14/2009] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Sershen H, Hashim A, Lajtha A. Differences between nicotine and cocaine-induced conditioned place preferences. Brain Res Bull 2010; 81:120-4. [PMID: 19665529 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2009.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2009] [Revised: 07/28/2009] [Accepted: 07/29/2009] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In previous studies, we found differences between nicotine and cocaine-induced changes in the levels of neurotransmitters in various brain areas, which suggested differences in their reward - preference mechanisms. The present study was based on the idea that drug preference is modulated by a number of different factors, among them several neurotransmitters and their receptors, and antagonists of specific receptors will influence preference. We also assumed that the factors (components of reward mechanisms) involved are different in the case of different drugs. We compared the inhibition of nicotine preference with cocaine preference. We assayed preference as conditioned place preference (CPP) and measured CPP inhibition by receptor subtype antagonists using mice. In general, induced CPP of cocaine was stronger than of nicotine as shown by more time spent in the nonpreferred area after conditioning with cocaine. We measured inhibition by four antagonists: mecamylamine, atropine, SCH23390, and phentolamine: antagonists respectively of nicotinic, and muscarinic acetylcholine, dopamine D1, and alpha noradrenergic receptors. The inhibition by the antagonists of cocaine CPP was lower in most instances than that of nicotine CPP. Atropine and SCH23390 inhibited nicotine and cocaine CPP approximately to the same degree, while the inhibition by mecamylamine and phentolamine of nicotine CPP was 100%; that of cocaine was 20% and 0, respectively. We conclude that several receptor systems and transmitters play a role in drug preference, some represent essential elements or circuits, some may be only required partially or their role can be partially substituted. The composition of such systems is different for different drugs - in the present study, some of the components influencing CPP are different for nicotine as opposed to cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Sershen
- Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA.
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The involvement of nicotinic receptor subtypes in the locomotor activity and analgesia induced by methamphetamine in mice. Behav Pharmacol 2009; 20:623-30. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0b013e328331ba5b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Escubedo E, Camarasa J, Chipana C, García-Ratés S, Pubill D. Involvement of nicotinic receptors in methamphetamine- and MDMA-induced neurotoxicity: pharmacological implications. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2009; 88:121-66. [PMID: 19897077 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7742(09)88006-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
During the last years, we have focused on the study of the neurotoxic effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (METH) on the central nervous system (CNS) and their pharmacological prevention methods. In the process of this research, we have used a semipurified synaptosomal preparation from striatum of mice or rats as a reliable in vitro model to study reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by these amphetamine derivatives, which is well-correlated with their dopaminergic injury in in vivo models. Using this preparation, we have demonstrated that blockade of alpha7 nicotinic receptors with methyllycaconitine (MLA) prevents ROS production induced by MDMA and METH. Consequently, in vivo, MLA significantly prevents MDMA- and METH-induced neurotoxicity at dopaminergic level (mouse striatum), without affecting hyperthermia induced by these amphetamines. Additionally, when neuroprotection was assayed with memantine (MEM), a dual antagonist of NMDA and alpha7 receptors, an effective neuroprotection was obtained also ahead of serotonergic injury induced by MDMA in rats. MEM also prevents MDMA effect on serotonin transporter functionality and METH effect on dopamine transporter (DAT), suggesting that behavioral effects of these psychostimulants can also be modulated by MEM. Finally, we have demonstrated that MEM prevents the impaired memory function induced by MDMA, and also, using binding studies with radioligands, we have characterized the interaction of these substances with nicotinic receptors. Studies at molecular level showed that both MDMA and METH displaced competitively the binding of radioligands with homomeric alpha7 and heteromeric nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), indicating that they can directly interact with them. In all the cases, MDMA displayed higher affinity than METH and it was higher for heteromeric than for alpha7 subtype. Pre-incubation of differentiated PC12 cells with MDMA or METH induces nAChR upregulation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, as many nicotinic ligands do, supporting their functional interaction with nAChRs. Such interaction expands the pharmacological profile of amphetamines and can account for some of their effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Escubedo
- Unitat de Farmacologia i Farmacognósia, Facultat de Farmácia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
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Reviriego F, Navarro P, García-España E, Albelda MT, Frías JC, Domènech A, Yunta MJR, Costa R, Ortí E. Diazatetraester 1H-Pyrazole Crowns as Fluorescent Chemosensors for AMPH, METH, MDMA (Ecstasy), and Dopamine. Org Lett 2008; 10:5099-102. [DOI: 10.1021/ol801732t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Reviriego
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Navarro
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique García-España
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M. Teresa Albelda
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan C. Frías
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Domènech
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria J. R. Yunta
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rubén Costa
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Ortí
- Instituto de Química Médica, Centro de Química Orgánica Manuel Lora-Tamayo CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado de Correos 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain, Departamento de Química Analítica, Universidad de Valencia, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, (Valencia) Spain, and Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda Complutense s/n 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Camarasa J, Marimón JM, Rodrigo T, Escubedo E, Pubill D. Memantine prevents the cognitive impairment induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2008; 589:132-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2008.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2008] [Revised: 04/15/2008] [Accepted: 05/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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