Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10316/110058
Title: Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine administration on retinal physiology in the rat
Authors: Martins, João 
Castelo-Branco, Miguel 
Batista, Ana 
Oliveiros, Bárbara 
Santiago, Ana Raquel 
Galvão, Joana 
Fernandes, Eduarda
Carvalho, Félix 
Cavadas, Cláudia 
Ambrósio, A. Francisco 
Issue Date: 2011
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Project: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal. FCT/FEDER/Plurianual contract to IBILI. http://alfa.fct.mctes.pt/ index.phtml.en 
Serial title, monograph or event: PLoS ONE
Volume: 6
Issue: 12
Abstract: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ecstasy) is known to produce euphoric states, but may also cause adverse consequences in humans, such as hyperthermia and neurocognitive deficits. Although MDMA consumption has been associated with visual problems, the effects of this recreational drug in retinal physiology have not been addressed hitherto. In this work, we evaluated the effect of a single MDMA administration in the rat electroretinogram (ERG). Wistar rats were administered MDMA (15 mg/kg) or saline and ERGs were recorded before (Baseline ERG), and 3 h, 24 h, and 7 days after treatment. A high temperature (HT) saline-treated control group was also included. Overall, significantly augmented and shorter latency ERG responses were found in MDMA and HT groups 3 h after treatment when compared to Baseline. Twenty-four hours after treatment some of the alterations found at 3 h, mainly characterized by shorter latency, tended to return to Baseline values. However, MDMA-treated animals still presented increased scotopic a-wave and b-wave amplitudes compared to Baseline ERGs, which were independent of temperature elevation though the latter might underlie the acute ERG alterations observed 3 h after MDMA administration. Seven days after MDMA administration recovery from these effects had occurred. The effects seem to stem from specific changes observed at the a-wave level, which indicates that MDMA affects subacutely (at 24 h) retinal physiology at the outer retinal (photoreceptor/bipolar) layers. In conclusion, we have found direct evidence that MDMA causes subacute enhancement of the outer retinal responses (most prominent in the a-wave), though ERG alterations resume within one week. These changes in photoreceptor/bipolar cell physiology may have implications for the understanding of the subacute visual manifestations induced by MDMA in humans.
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/10316/110058
ISSN: 1932-6203
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029583
Rights: openAccess
Appears in Collections:I&D CNC - Artigos em Revistas Internacionais
FMUC Medicina - Artigos em Revistas Internacionais
I&D IBILI - Artigos em Revistas Internacionais

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