Hyperthermia is probably the most widely known acute adverse event that can follow ingestion of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) by recreational users. The effect of MDMA on body temperature is complex because the drug has actions on all three major monoamine neurotransmitters [5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), dopamine and noradrenaline], both by amine release and by direct receptor...
Background and purpose: We have investigated the ability of the β 3 ‐adrenoceptor antagonist 1‐(2‐ethylphenoxy)‐3‐[[(1S)‐1,2,3,4,‐tetrahydro‐1‐naphthalenyl]amino]‐(2S)‐2‐propanol hydrochloride (SR59230A) to affect the hyperthermia produced by methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in conscious mice and whether α 1 ‐adrenoceptor antagonist actions are involved. Experimental approach: Mice were...
The effects of injection of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4‐methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and N ‐ethyl‐3,4‐methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDEA) (all 20 mg kg −1 ) on blood pressure, heart rate, core body temperature and locomotor activity in conscious rats were investigated using radiotelemetry. MDMA and MDA produced a prolonged increase in both systolic and diastolic pressures,...
3,4‐Methylenedioxymetamphetamine (MDMA) produces complex effects on body temperature, including hypo‐ and hyperthermic components that vary with ambient temperature and strain of rat. We have previously reported that MDMA is an α 2 ‐adrenoceptor agonist, and α 2 ‐adrenoceptor agonists such as clonidine produce hypothermia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of MDMA on core...
We have recently shown that methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), cathinone and methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) have a cocaine-like action to potentiate the contractile actions of noradrenaline but not isoprenaline in the 1-Hz paced rat right ventricle. The purpose of this study was to directly test the actions of these compounds at the noradrenaline...
We have investigated the effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’), i.v., on diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in pithed and pentobarbitone anaesthetized rats. In pithed rats, the non‐selective 5‐HT receptor antagonist methiothepin (0.1 mg kg −1 ) and the α 2 ‐adrenoceptor antagonists methoxyidazoxan and yohimbine (1 mg kg −1 ) showed significant α 1 ‐adrenoceptor antagonist...
We have investigated the effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) on peripheral noradrenergic neurotransmission in the rat. In rat atrial slices pre‐incubated with [ 3 H]‐noradrenaline and in the presence of desipramine (1 μ M ) to prevent effects of MDMA on basal outflow of tritium, MDMA (10 μ M ) significantly inhibited the release of tritium evoked by short trains of six...