Cocaine and MDMA Induce Cellular and Molecular Changes in Adult Neurogenic Systems: Functional Implications
1
Laboratory of Comparative Neurobiology, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biologia Evolutiva, Universidad de Valencia, Catedratico Jose Beltran 2, 46980, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
2
Brain Tumor Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, USA
3
Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigacion Principe Felipe, Avda Autopista del Saler 16, 46012, Valencia, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pharmaceuticals 2011, 4(6), 915-932; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph4060915
Received: 2 April 2011 / Revised: 3 June 2011 / Accepted: 10 June 2011 / Published: 17 June 2011
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drug Abuse Targets)
The capacity of the brain to generate new adult neurons is a recent discovery that challenges the old theory of an immutable adult brain. A new and fascinating field of research now focuses on this regenerative process. The two brain systems that constantly produce new adult neurons, known as the adult neurogenic systems, are the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and the lateral ventricules/olfactory bulb system. Both systems are involved in memory and learning processes. Different drugs of abuse, such as cocaine and MDMA, have been shown to produce cellular and molecular changes that affect adult neurogenesis. This review summarizes the effects that these drugs have on the adult neurogenic systems. The functional relevance of adult neurogenesis is obscured by the functions of the systems that integrate adult neurons. Therefore, we explore the effects that cocaine and MDMA produce not only on adult neurogenesis, but also on the DG and olfactory bulbs. Finally, we discuss the possible role of new adult neurons in cocaine- and MDMA-induced impairments. We conclude that, although harmful drug effects are produced at multiple physiological and anatomical levels, the specific consequences of reduced hippocampus neurogenesis are unclear and require further exploration.
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Keywords:
cocaine; MDMA; adult neurogenesis; memory; dentate gyrus
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License
MDPI and ACS Style
Capilla-Gonzalez, V.; Hernandez-Rabaza, V. Cocaine and MDMA Induce Cellular and Molecular Changes in Adult Neurogenic Systems: Functional Implications. Pharmaceuticals 2011, 4, 915-932.
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