The Effect of Pentoxifylline on bcl-2 Gene Expression Changes in Hippocampus after Long-term use of Ecstasy in Wistar
Zeinab Khazaei Koohpar1, Mehrdad Hashemi, Reza Mahdian
1Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") is a psychoactive and hallucinogenic drug of abuse. MDMA has been shown to produce neurotoxicity both in animals and humans. Recently, the vasodilator drugs such as pentoxifylline is one of the new strategies which have been considered as neuroprotector. In this study effect of pentoxifylline on bcl- 2 gene expression changes in hippocampus of rat following long- term use of ecstasy was investigated. 30 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 5 groups: control (normal), sham (MDMA injection), experimental 1 (MDMA and then PTX injections), experimental 2 (PTX injection and after 1 week, MDMA injection) and vehicle (saline injection) groups. All drugs were injected intraperitoneally.Two weeks later, the hippocampi were removed for studying the changes in bcl-2 gene expression. We used quantitative real time PCR for detection of bcl-2 gene expression in treated groups and then compared them to control samples. The results showed the gene dosage ratio of 0.49, 0.78 and 1.17 for sham, experimental 1 and experimental 2 groups, respectively. The results also showed the bcl-2 gene expression declined in sham group as compared to the experimentalgroups. Furthermore, we observed a significant difference in the bcl-2 gene expression between sham and experimental 2 groups. We conclude that quantitative real time PCR could be used as a direct method for the detection of bcl-2 gene expression in tested and normal samples.
Insights
Pentoxifylline may protect against ecstasy-induced neurotoxicity by modulating bcl-2 gene expression in rat hippocampus. This study investigated the effects of pentoxifylline on bcl-2 gene expression following long-term ecstasy use.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), known as Ecstasy, is a psychoactive drug associated with neurotoxicity.
- Pentoxifylline, a vasodilator, is being explored for its potential neuroprotective properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of pentoxifylline on bcl-2 gene expression in the rat hippocampus after long-term MDMA (Ecstasy) administration.
- To assess the neuroprotective potential of pentoxifylline against MDMA-induced changes in gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats were divided into five groups: control, sham (MDMA), experimental 1 (MDMA then pentoxifylline), experimental 2 (pentoxifylline then MDMA), and vehicle.
- Hippocampal tissues were collected two weeks post-treatment.
- Quantitative real-time PCR was employed to measure bcl-2 gene expression.
Main Results:
- MDMA administration (sham group) led to a decline in bcl-2 gene expression compared to control.
- Pentoxifylline treatment, particularly when administered before MDMA (experimental 2 group), showed a significant difference in bcl-2 gene expression compared to the sham group.
- Gene dosage ratios were 0.49 for sham, 0.78 for experimental 1, and 1.17 for experimental 2.
Conclusions:
- MDMA (Ecstasy) use downregulates bcl-2 gene expression in the rat hippocampus.
- Pentoxifylline may counteract MDMA-induced neurotoxicity by influencing bcl-2 gene expression.
- Quantitative real-time PCR is a viable method for detecting bcl-2 gene expression changes.
