3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) administration to rats produces hyperthermia if they are housed in normal or warm ambient room temperature ( T a ) conditions (20°C), but hypothermia when in cool conditions ( T a 17°C). We have now investigated some of the mechanisms involved. MDMA (5 mg kg −1 i.p.) produced a rapid decrease in rectal temperature in rats at T a 15°C. This...
The technique of ‘binge’ dosing (several doses in one session) by recreational users of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) requires evaluation in terms of its consequences on the acute hyperthermic response and long-term neurotoxicity. We examined the neurotoxic effects of this dosing schedule on 5-HT and dopamineneurones in the rat brain. When repeated (three) doses of MDMA (2,...