PLoS Biology
July 9, 2015
Xavier Viñals, Estefanía Moreno, Laurence Lanfumey et al.
211 citations
Activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1R) by delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produces a variety of negative effects with major consequences in cannabis users that constitute important drawbacks for the use of cannabinoids as therapeutic agents. For this reason, there is a tremendous medical interest in harnessing the beneficial effects of THC. Behavioral studies carried out in mice...
PLoS One
November 4, 2013
Alvaro Llorente‐berzal, Emma Puighermanal, Aurelijus Burokas et al.
43 citations
Ecstasy is a drug that is usually consumed by young people at the weekends and frequently, in combination with cannabis. In the present study we have investigated the long-term effects of administering increasing doses of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC; 2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg; i.p.] from postnatal day (pnd) 28 to 45, alone and/or in conjunction with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA; two...
Addiction Biology
January 19, 2012
Xavier Viñals, Rafaël Maldonado, Patricia Robledo
32 citations
ABSTRACT Repeated administration of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice. However, it is still not clear whether this exposure induces deficits in cognitive processing related to specific subsets of executive functioning. We evaluated the effects of neurotoxic and non‐neurotoxic doses of MDMA (0, 3 and 30 mg/kg, twice daily for 4 days) on working...
Behavioural Pharmacology
June 29, 2011
María José Varela, José Brea, Marı́a Isabel Loza et al.
18 citations
The behavioral and neurochemical adaptations related to chronic 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) treatment are largely unknown. In this study, we assessed whether repeated administration of MDMA would induce (a) context-dependent locomotor sensitization in mice and (b) changes in serotonin 5-HT(2A) and dopamine D₂ receptor functionality as measured by [³⁵S]GTPγS binding. Mice were...
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
October 14, 2010
María Juliana Orejarena, Laurence Lanfumey, Rafaël Maldonado et al.
38 citations
The serotonergic system appears crucial for (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) reinforcing properties. Current evidence indicates that serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) modulate mesolimbic dopamine (DA) activity and several behavioural responses related to the addictive properties of psychostimulants. This study evaluated the role of 5-HT2ARs in MDMA-induced reinforcement and...
Synapse
December 22, 2009
Ainhoa Plaza‐zabala, Fernando Berrendero, Juan Suárez et al.
3 citations
Abstract MDMA (3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is an amphetamine derivative widely used for recreational purposes. We have recently shown that repeated treatment with high doses of MDMA‐induced impairments in the acquisition and recall of an active avoidance task in mice. In this study, we examined whether the endogenous peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α (PPAR‐α) agonist,...
Psychopharmacology
August 2009
María Juliana Orejarena, Fernando Berrendero, Rafaël Maldonado et al.
There is evidence demonstrating changes in dopamine (DA) transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) related to contingent versus non-contingent drug administration. The aim of this study was to evaluate basal and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-stimulated DA levels in the NAc of mice that had previously received contingent and non-contingent infusions of MDMA. Contingent mice were...
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology
June 2009
José Manuel Trigo, María Juliana Orejarena, Rafaël Maldonado et al.
MDMA effects are mediated by monoaminergic systems, which seem to play a central role in cocaine craving and relapse. CD1 mice trained to self-administer cocaine (1 mg/kg/infusion) underwent an extinction procedure in which the cues contingent with drug self-administration remained present. Mice achieving extinction were injected with MDMA (10 mg/kg), d-amphetamine (1 and 2 mg/kg) or saline and...
Psychopharmacology
April 2008
José Manuel Trigo, Araceli Cabrero-Castel, Fernando Berrendero et al.
Several studies have suggested the existence of cognitive deficits after repeated or high doses of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in humans and experimental animals. However, the extent of the impairments observed in learning or memory tasks remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different dosing regimens of MDMA on the ability of mice to learn and...
Psychopharmacology
July 2007
Clara Touriño, Rafaël Maldonado, Olga Valverde
3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cannabis are widely abused illicit drugs that are frequently consumed in combination. Interactions between these two drugs have been reported in several pharmacological responses observed in animals, such as body temperature, anxiety, cognition, and reward. However, the interaction between MDMA and cannabis in addictive processes such as physical...
The European journal of neuroscience
October 2004
Guadalupe Soria, Anna Castañé, Fernando Berrendero et al.
A2A adenosine and CB1 cannabinoid receptors are highly expressed in the central nervous system, where they modulate numerous physiological processes including adaptive responses to drugs of abuse. Both purinergic and cannabinoid systems interact with dopamine neurotransmission (through A2A and CB1 receptors, respectively). Changes in dopamine neurotransmission play an important role in...
European Journal of Neuroscience
July 15, 2004
Patricia Robledo, Victoria Mendizábal, Jordi Ortuño et al.
40 citations
Abstract The involvement of µ‐opioid receptors in the rewarding properties of MDMA was explored in µ‐opioid receptor knockout mice using the conditioning place preference paradigm. The associated release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens was investigated by in vivo microdialysis. A significant rewarding effect of MDMA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was observed in both wild‐type and µ‐opioid receptor...
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
December 1, 2001
A Zimmer, E Valjent, M Konig et al.
The involvement of dynorphin on Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and morphine responses has been investigated by using mice with a targeted inactivation of the prodynorphin (Pdyn) gene. Dynorphin-deficient mice show specific changes in the behavioral effects of THC, including a reduction of spinal THC analgesia and the absence of THC-induced conditioned place aversion. In contrast, acute and...