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Some behavioural and neurochemical aspects of subacute (+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine administration in rats. 1995

M G McNamara, and J P Kelly, and B E Leonard
Department of Pharmacology, University College, Galway, Ireland.

(+/-)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "Ecstasy"), an increasingly popular recreational drug, is known to damage brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) neurons, whilst also having a less pronounced effect on the dopaminergic system. Treatment with MDMA results in an increased locomotor activity, elevated basal serum corticosterone concentrations, decreased exploratory activity, and changes in body temperature. The aim of this study was to examine the dose related effects of subacute administration of MDMA (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg IP twice daily for 4 days) on home cage locomotor activity, "open field" and "step-down passive avoidance" behaviours, changes due to an 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) challenge, and on plasma corticosterone and brain neurotransmitter concentrations. Total locomotor activity counts were significantly increased by both 10 and 20 mg/kg MDMA for the 4 days of drug administration. There were no significant differences seen in the "open field" or "step down passive avoidance" behaviour, in the 8-OH-DPAT induced hypothermia, or in basal serum corticosterone concentrations. MDMA caused a significant depletion of both 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the frontal cortex and amygdala and a significant elevation of dopamine and noradrenaline in the hippocampus. Apart from the increase in locomotor activity following subacute administration, the observed behaviour of the MDMA treated rats would not appear to reflect the substantial changes in brain biogenic amine neurotransmitters.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009043 Motor Activity Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon. Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D001831 Body Temperature The measure of the level of heat of a human or animal. Organ Temperature,Body Temperatures,Organ Temperatures,Temperature, Body,Temperature, Organ,Temperatures, Body,Temperatures, Organ
D001923 Brain Chemistry Changes in the amounts of various chemicals (neurotransmitters, receptors, enzymes, and other metabolites) specific to the area of the central nervous system contained within the head. These are monitored over time, during sensory stimulation, or under different disease states. Chemistry, Brain,Brain Chemistries,Chemistries, Brain
D003345 Corticosterone An adrenocortical steroid that has modest but significant activities as a mineralocorticoid and a glucocorticoid. (From Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1437)
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001522 Behavior, Animal The observable response an animal makes to any situation. Autotomy Animal,Animal Behavior,Animal Behaviors
D001679 Biogenic Amines A group of naturally occurring amines derived by enzymatic decarboxylation of the natural amino acids. Many have powerful physiological effects (e.g., histamine, serotonin, epinephrine, tyramine). Those derived from aromatic amino acids, and also their synthetic analogs (e.g., amphetamine), are of use in pharmacology. Amines, Biogenic,Biogenic Amine,Amine, Biogenic
D017207 Rats, Sprague-Dawley A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company. Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats

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