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O N-metil- 3-4, metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA) ou ecstasy tem sido freqüentemente usado por jovens. Analisamos neste trabalho, dentro de uma perspectiva neuroimune, os efeitos da administração aguda de MDMA em parâmetros comportamentais, neuroendócrinos, hematatológicos e imunes de camundongos Balb/C, usando para esta última finalidade um modelo de asma experimental. O MDMA produziu: 1- aumento diferencial da atividade locomotora nas diferentes zonas do campo aberto; aumento na locomoção total e diminuição da atividade exploratória no hole-board; aumento da porcentagem de entradas e da taxa de permanência nos braços abertos do LCE; aumento no tempo gasto na caixa de saída e diminuição do número de acessos de risco em uma caixa de exposição a um predador; 2- aumento dos níveis séricos de corticoterona; 3- aumento dos níveis de noradrenalina no estriado e córtex frontal, aumento nos níveis de dopamina e de DOPAC no estriado, diminuição dos níveis de DOPAC corticais, aumento de 5-HT e 5-HIAA no estriado, diminuição dos níveis de 5- HIAA e do turnover de serotonina no hipotálamo e diminuição do \"turnover\" de dopamina no estriado e córtex frontal; 4- alteração na migração de leucócitos em camundongos alérgicos com diminuição da porcentagem de linfócitos e monócitos circulantes, diminuição do número de granulócitos no lavado bronco alveolar (LBA), efeitos estes que foram revertidos pelo pré-tratamento com RU-486; 5 redução da expressão de L-selectinas por monócitos e tendência de redução da expressão de L -selectinas por neutrófilos no pulmão; 6- diminuição das produções espontâneas de IL-4, IL-5 e IL-10 e de IL-4 em cultura estimulada com LPS; 7- redução da contração da traquéia isolada de animais alérgicos e 8- redução da desgranulação dos mastócitos em brônquios intrapulmonares. Sugeriu-se que o estresse/ansiedade induzidos pelo MDMA tenham ativado o eixo HHA e/ou do sistema nervoso autonômico simpático dos camundongos, alterando a resposta imune dos mesmos na vigência de um modelo de asma. A inflamação alérgica pulmonar desponta, assim, como importante ferramenta para o entendimento da ação de drogas de abuso em processos neuroimunológicos. / The N-metil- 3-4, metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA) or ecstasy is a drug widely used amongst young people. This study was undertaken to analyze, under a neuroimmune perspective, the effects of acute MDMA administration on behavioral, neuroendocrine, hematological and immune parameters on Balb/C mice, using for the latter purpose the allergic lung inflammatory response model. It was observed that MDMA produced in mice: 1- a differential increase on total locomotion in the different open-field zones; an increase on total locomotion and a decrease on exploratory activity in the hole-board; an increase on both percentage of entrances and time spent on plus-maze open arms; an increase on time spent in the starting box and a decrease of risk assessments in a predator exposition box; 2- an increase in corticosterone serum levels; 3- an increase in striatal and frontal cortex noradrenaline levels, an increase in striatal dopamine and DOPAC levels, a decrease in cortical DOPAC levels, an increase in striatal 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels, a decrease in both 5-HIAA levels and 5-HT turnover rates in hypothalamus and a decrease in striatal and cortical dopamine \"turnover\" rates; 4- an alteration on leukocyte migration in allergic mice, i.e., decreased percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes, decreased number of granulocytes on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( LBA); these effects were reverted by previous RU-486 treatment; 5- a decrease in L-selectin expression by monocytes and a tendency towards a decrease in L-selectin expression by lung neutrophils; 6- a decrease on expontaneous production of IL-4, IL-5 e IL-10 and IL-4 in LPS-stimulated cultures; 7- a decrease in the contraction of allergic mice isolated trachea; and, 8- a decrease in bronchial mastocytes degranulation. It was suggested that MDMA-induced anxiety/stress symptoms increasing HHA-axis and/or the autonomic nervous system activities this leading to the immune changes observed presently in the allergic lung inflammation model of asthma used. This model, thus, emerges as a useful tool for the understanding of neuroimmune effects of drugs of abuse.

O N-metil- 3-4, metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA) ou ecstasy tem sido freqüentemente usado por jovens. Analisamos neste trabalho, dentro de uma perspectiva neuroimune, os efeitos da administração aguda de MDMA em parâmetros comportamentais, neuroendócrinos, hematatológicos e imunes de camundongos Balb/C, usando para esta última finalidade um modelo de asma experimental. O MDMA produziu: 1- aumento diferencial da atividade locomotora nas diferentes zonas do campo aberto; aumento na locomoção total e diminuição da atividade exploratória no hole-board; aumento da porcentagem de entradas e da taxa de permanência nos braços abertos do LCE; aumento no tempo gasto na caixa de saída e diminuição do número de acessos de risco em uma caixa de exposição a um predador; 2- aumento dos níveis séricos de corticoterona; 3- aumento dos níveis de noradrenalina no estriado e córtex frontal, aumento nos níveis de dopamina e de DOPAC no estriado, diminuição dos níveis de DOPAC corticais, aumento de 5-HT e 5-HIAA no estriado, diminuição dos níveis de 5- HIAA e do turnover de serotonina no hipotálamo e diminuição do \"turnover\" de dopamina no estriado e córtex frontal; 4- alteração na migração de leucócitos em camundongos alérgicos com diminuição da porcentagem de linfócitos e monócitos circulantes, diminuição do número de granulócitos no lavado bronco alveolar (LBA), efeitos estes que foram revertidos pelo pré-tratamento com RU-486; 5 redução da expressão de L-selectinas por monócitos e tendência de redução da expressão de L -selectinas por neutrófilos no pulmão; 6- diminuição das produções espontâneas de IL-4, IL-5 e IL-10 e de IL-4 em cultura estimulada com LPS; 7- redução da contração da traquéia isolada de animais alérgicos e 8- redução da desgranulação dos mastócitos em brônquios intrapulmonares. Sugeriu-se que o estresse/ansiedade induzidos pelo MDMA tenham ativado o eixo HHA e/ou do sistema nervoso autonômico simpático dos camundongos, alterando a resposta imune dos mesmos na vigência de um modelo de asma. A inflamação alérgica pulmonar desponta, assim, como importante ferramenta para o entendimento da ação de drogas de abuso em processos neuroimunológicos. / The N-metil- 3-4, metilenodioximetanfetamina (MDMA) or ecstasy is a drug widely used amongst young people. This study was undertaken to analyze, under a neuroimmune perspective, the effects of acute MDMA administration on behavioral, neuroendocrine, hematological and immune parameters on Balb/C mice, using for the latter purpose the allergic lung inflammatory response model. It was observed that MDMA produced in mice: 1- a differential increase on total locomotion in the different open-field zones; an increase on total locomotion and a decrease on exploratory activity in the hole-board; an increase on both percentage of entrances and time spent on plus-maze open arms; an increase on time spent in the starting box and a decrease of risk assessments in a predator exposition box; 2- an increase in corticosterone serum levels; 3- an increase in striatal and frontal cortex noradrenaline levels, an increase in striatal dopamine and DOPAC levels, a decrease in cortical DOPAC levels, an increase in striatal 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels, a decrease in both 5-HIAA levels and 5-HT turnover rates in hypothalamus and a decrease in striatal and cortical dopamine \"turnover\" rates; 4- an alteration on leukocyte migration in allergic mice, i.e., decreased percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes, decreased number of granulocytes on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( LBA); these effects were reverted by previous RU-486 treatment; 5- a decrease in L-selectin expression by monocytes and a tendency towards a decrease in L-selectin expression by lung neutrophils; 6- a decrease on expontaneous production of IL-4, IL-5 e IL-10 and IL-4 in LPS-stimulated cultures; 7- a decrease in the contraction of allergic mice isolated trachea; and, 8- a decrease in bronchial mastocytes degranulation. It was suggested that MDMA-induced anxiety/stress symptoms increasing HHA-axis and/or the autonomic nervous system activities this leading to the immune changes observed presently in the allergic lung inflammation model of asthma used. This model, thus, emerges as a useful tool for the understanding of neuroimmune effects of drugs of abuse.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling condition that afflicts 1-10% of the general population, with twice as high lifetime prevalence for women than men. Treatments exist, but none have proven reliable and consistent efficacy. A large minority of patients remain treatment-resistant despite undergoing several different types of treatment over extended periods of time. Recently completed studies in the U.S. and in Switzerland have demonstrated the potential of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant PTSD. One of the major problems of treating PTSD is the patients’ fear state and inability to form a therapeutic alliance. Both these issues can be facilitated through administration of MDMA; the psychological effects - such as heightened empathy, increased openness and diminished anxiety – seem well-suited for therapeutic purposes. The rationale behind treating PTSD with MDMA has been indicated in neuroimaging studies; MDMA affects some of the neural structures altered in patients with PTSD, most notably the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Using the Schedule 1 substance MDMA for this purpose is however controversial; animal studies have indicated that MDMA is neurotoxic, although no adverse effects on humans related to incidental use of MDMA in a controlled setting have been found. In conclusion, the data support that MDMA may be an efficient tool for treating PTSD, as well as safe and effective to use in a clinical context.

La maladie de Parkinson (MP) est caractérisée par une dégénérescence progressive et irréversible des neurones dopaminergiques (DA) de la substance noire. Lorsque la perte DA atteint 60 à 80%, les patients vont développer des symptômes. Les traitements DA permettent de contrecarrer l'expression de ces symptômes mais induisent également à long terme l'apparition de complications invalidantes. De plus les patients développent également des symptômes non- moteurs pouvant émerger avant, pendant ou après l'apparition des symptômes moteurs. Parallèlement à la dégénérescence DA, les patients parkinsoniens présentent des altérations du système sérotoninergique (5-HT) qui ont été mises en évidence en post-mortem et plus récemment par imagerie par tomographie à émission de positons (TEP). Des corrélations ont également été démontrées entre l'altération du système 5-HT et la sévérité de certains symptômes parkinsoniens. Cependant, à ce jour, aucune étude n'a mis en évidence de lien causal direct entre l'altération 5-HT et l'expression des symptômes parkinsoniens. Il était donc crucial de clarifier le rôle exact de la 5-HT dans le développement des symptômes parkinsoniens ainsi que dans la réponse aux traitements dopaminergiques. Dans ce contexte, nous avons développé un nouveau modèle de la MP. Ce modèle nous a permis d'étudier l'impact de la lésion 5-HT sur la symptomatologie parkinsonienne. Ce travail a permis de démontrer l'implication du système sérotoninergique dans l'expression de la rigidité parkinsonienne. Par ailleurs, ce travail a également permis de démontrer le rôle causal des fibres 5-HT dans le développement de complications induites par un traitement chronique à la L- DOPA / Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive and irreversible degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons localized in the substantia nigra, leading to the loss of dopamine within the target structures (mainly the striatum). When the DA loss reaches 60 to 80%, PD patients develop motor symptoms (rigidity, tremor, akinesia/bradykinesia). DA treatments allow counteracting symptoms expression but also induce after a certain time the appearance of disabling complications. Moreover, patients also develop non-motor symptoms that can emerge before, during or after the appearance of motor symptoms. ln addition to DA degeneration, PD patients present serotoninergic (5-HT) alteration evidenced in post-mortem and more recently by position emission tomography (PET) imaging. Correlations have been shown between the 5-HT alteration and the severity of some motor and non-motor symptoms as well as L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. However, to date, none study evidenced a direct causal link between the 5-HT alteration and the expression of parkinsonian symptoms. lt was crucial to clarify the exact role of 5-HT in the development of parkinsonian symptoms. ln this context, we have developed a new model of PD. This model has allowed studying the impact of the 5-HT lesion on the parkinsonian symptomatology. We have evidenced the involvement of the 5-HT system in the expression of parkinsonian rigidity. Moreover, we have demonstrated the causal role of the 5-HT fibers in the development of complications induced by the L-DOPA treatment

La maladie de Parkinson (MP) se caractérise par une dégénérescence progressive et irréversible des neurones dopaminergiques de la substance noire induisant une perte de dopamine (DA) dans les structures cibles. Lorsque cette perte DA se situe entre 60 % et 80 %, les patients présentent des symptômes moteurs (rigidité, tremblement, akinésie) et non-moteurs très variés (dépression, anxiété, apathie). Ces derniers apparaissent avant et/ou en même temps que les symptômes moteurs. La dopathérapie permet de contrecarrer certains symptômes, mais tous ne sont pas sensibles à cette médication. Parallèlement à la dégénérescence DA, le système sérotoninergique (5-HT) serait aussi altéré de façon précoce dans la maladie. Cette dégénérescence est liée par l’expression de symptômes moteurs et non-moteurs. Néanmoins, aucun lien causal n’a été mis en évidence entre cette lésion 5-HT et la symptomatologie parkinsonienne. Ainsi, il était primordial de déterminer le rôle de la 5-HT dans 1) l’expression des troubles moteurs et non-moteurs 2) dans la réponse au traitement sérotoninergique et dopaminergique. Nous avons utilisé un nouveau modèle animal primate ayant une lésion 5-HT (via la MDMA) puis une lésion DA (via le MPTP). Ce modèle nous permet de mettre en évidence l’impact d’une lésion 5-HT précoce dans la symptomatologie. Des approches comportementales, pharmacologiques, d’imagerie et de neuroanatomie ont été utilisées. La lésion 5-HT a induit un trouble anxieux chez les animaux lésés à la MDMA, qui ne sont pas contrecarrer avec un traitement sérotoninergique (antidépresseur). Cette lésion a également induit une sévérité et une progression plus rapide des symptômes moteurs induits par la lésion DA / Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive and irreversible degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons localized in the substantia nigra, leading to a loss of dopamine within the target structures. When the loss of DA reaches 60 to 80 %, PD patients develop a wide range of motor (rigidity, tremor, akinesia fro example) and non-motor (depression, anxiety, apathy for example) symptoms. Dopatherapy allows the reduction of symptoms expression. But some motor and non-motor symptoms are not counteracted by those DA drugs. In addition to DA degeneration, patients present an early serotonergic (5-HT) lesion. This lesion is linked to the severity of some motor and non-motor symptoms. However, there is no causal link established between 5-HT lesion and parkinsonian symptoms. Therefore, it was essential to determine the role of 5-HT 1) in the expression of motor and non-motor symptoms 2) and in the response of DA and 5-HT treatments. For that, we used a new monkey model of PD, exhibiting a 5-HT lesion (with MDMA ‘”ecstasy”)) followed by a DA lesion (with MPTP). This model allowed us to evaluate the impact of an early 5-HT lesion on parkinsonian symptoms. We used different approaches: PET imaging, pharmacology, behavioral and neuroanatomy. The MDMA-driven early 5-HT lesion induced an anxious-like behavior on MDMA treatedmonkeys. This behavioral modification was not counteracted by 5-HT drugs (antidepressant). This MDMA lesion has also increased the severity and the progression of parkinsonian symptoms induced by DA lesion with MPTP

Adolescence is a critical developmental period in which the brain emerges from an immature state to adulthood. This process of brain development is associated to greater cognitive capacity but also to altered emotional behaviour, such as anxiety and depressive symptoms; as well as increased sensation-seeking and risk taking behaviour. The proper development of brain and behaviour into adulthood can be negatively affected by external factors such as drug abuse and environmental conditions. This work consists firstly on, studying the impact of binge ethanol, 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and its combination in adolescent mice. Secondly, study the consequences of early-life stressful experiences (social isolation) into adulthood. Main results obtained from the first objective are that the combination of binge ethanol and MDMA induces emotional-like alterations. These alterations can be prevented by antidepressant treatment. In addition, MDMA induces memory impairments that may be associated to oxidative damage to specific proteins in the hippocampus. Neuroinflammation is also present after MDMA treatment, but not after binge ethanol treatment, in mice striatum. Metabolomic studies indicate that brain metabolism is altered after binge ethanol, MDMA or its combination. Even though these are only preliminary results, these alterations might be due to an imbalance in tryptophan metabolism. Regarding the second objective, our findings indicate that social isolation during adolescence induces an altered response to novel and stressful situations. These alterations are probably due to altered HPA axis activity. / L'adolescència és un període crític en el desenvolupament de l’individu en el qual el cervell va d’un estat immadur a l’edat adulta. Aquest procés va acompanyat d’una elevada capacitat cognitiva però també de freqüents alteracions de tipus emocional, com l’ansietat o els símptomes depressius, així com la cerca de sensacions de risc. Un bon desenvolupament del cervell i del comportament es pot veure negativament afectat per factors externs com són l’abús de drogues i les condicions ambientals desfavorables. Aquest projecte consisteix en primer lloc, a estudiar l'impacte de l’alcohol en excés, la 3, 4-Metilendioximetamfetamina (MDMA) i la seva combinació en ratolins adolescents. En segon lloc, estudiar les conseqüències en l’edat adulta d’experiències estressants durant l’adolescència. Els principals resultats obtinguts referents al primer objectiu són que la combinació d'alcohol en excés i MDMA provoca alteracions de tipus emocional. Aquestes alteracions poden ser previngudes pel tractament amb antidepressius. A més, la MDMA indueix un deteriorament de la memòria que pot estar associada amb el dany oxidatiu a proteïnes específiques de l'hipocamp. També s’ha observat una resposta neuroinflamatòria en el cos estriat dels ratolins després del tractament amb MDMA, però no després del tractament amb etanol en excés. Finalment, estudis de metabolòmica indiquen que el metabolisme cerebral es veu alterat després de l’alcohol en excés, la MDMA o la seva combinació. Tot i que només són resultats preliminars, aquestes alteracions poden ser conseqüència d'un desequilibri en el metabolisme del triptòfan. Referent al segon objectiu, els nostres resultats indiquen que l'aïllament social durant l’adolescència indueix una resposta alterada a situacions novelles i estressants. Aquestes respostes anormals són probablement conseqüència d’alteracions en l’activitat de l’eix HPA.