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MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine) as an empathogenic drug causes neurotoxicity although the mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. The A2a adenosine receptor modulates the reinforcement efficacy and neurotoxicity of MDMA. A2a receptor activation inhibits Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) activation and nuclear translocation by a known mechanism. In the present study, we aimed to compare the NF-κB activity level in rat hippocampus between two doses of MDMA exposure (10 and 20 mg /kg) using either A2aR agonist (CGS) or A2aR antagonist (SCH). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to MDMA followed by intraperitoneal CGS (0.03 mg/kg) or SCH (0.03 mg/kg) injection. The hippocampi were then removed for western blot and RTPCR analyses. Administration of MDMA dose-dependently increased the expression of NF-κB both at mRNA and protein levels. We …