Peripheral endocannabinoid concentrations are not associated with verbal memory impairment during MDMA intoxication
Haijen, E. (Maastricht, The Netherlands)
Farre, Magi (Institut Germans Trias i Pujol. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol)
De La Torre, Rafael (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Pastor, Antoni (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Olesti, Eulàlia (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Pizarro, Neus (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Ramaekers, Johannes G (Maastricht, The Netherlands)
Kuypers, Kim P. C (Maastricht University. Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology)
Date: |
2017 |
Abstract: |
Preclinical data have suggested involvement of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in MDMA-induced memory impairment. Clinical research has shown that blockade of the 5-HT receptor nulls memory impairment during MDMA intoxication. Interestingly, studies have demonstrated that the eCB and the 5-HT system interact. It was hypothesized that MDMA would cause an increase in eCB concentrations together with a decrease in memory performance, and that combining MDMA with a 5-HT receptor blocker ketanserin would lead to a counteraction of the MDMA effects on eCB concentrations and memory. Twenty healthy recreational polydrug users entered a double-blind placebo-controlled within-subject study. Participants received a pre-treatment (ketanserin 40 mg, placebo) followed 30 min later by a treatment (MDMA 75 mg, placebo). Verbal memory was tested by means of a 30-word learning test. Endocannabinoid concentrations (anandamide (2-AG); N -arachidonylethanolamine (AEA)) were assessed in blood at baseline, before (90 min post-treatment) and after cognitive tests (150 min post-treatment). Findings showed that MDMA impaired memory 90 min post-treatment in the word learning task. This effect was a replication of previous studies using the same dose of MDMA (75 mg) and the same learning paradigm. Contrary to our hypothesis, MDMA did not affect eCB concentrations, nor did ketanserin block MDMA-induced memory impairment. Ketanserin caused an increase in AEA concentrations, 180 min after administration. Current findings suggest that peripherally measured endocannabinoids are not associated with the verbal memory deficit during MDMA intoxication. Trial registration number: NTR3691. |
Grants: |
Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2014SGR 680
|
Note: |
Altres ajuts: This research was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), Grant Number: 400-07-2013, awarded to JR and KK. |
Rights: |
Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. |
Language: |
Anglès |
Document: |
Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada |
Subject: |
MDMA ;
Verbal memory ;
5-HT2 receptor ;
Ketanserin ;
Endocannabinoids ;
2-AG ;
AEA |
Published in: |
Psychopharmacology, Vol. 235 (november 2017) , p. 709-717, ISSN 1432-2072 |
DOI: 10.1007/s00213-017-4787-2
PMID: 29143869
The record appears in these collections:
Articles >
Research articlesArticles >
Published articles
Record created 2018-06-18, last modified 2024-05-29