A three-choice discrimination procedure dissociates the discriminative stimulus effects of d-amphetamine and (±)-MDMA in rats.
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2000 DOI: 10.1037//1064-1297.8.3.415 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Drug discrimination study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | MDMA d-amphetamine cocaine LSD 2 5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine fenfluramine MDA pirenpirone |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Fenfluramine Stimulant Dextroamphetamine Stimulus control Pharmacology Stimulus generalization |
| Citations | 44 |
| Key points | MDMA and d-amphetamine can be established as discriminative stimuli in rats using a three-choice operant procedure, with fenfluramine and both isomers of MDA fully substituting for MDMA, while LSD nearly completely substituted for MDMA and cocaine fully substituted for d-amphetamine. |
Abstract
(+/-)-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces subjective effects in humans that are similar to, but distinguishable from, those of psychostimulants. Drug discrimination studies in nonhumans have yielded inconsistent results regarding the similarities between MDMA and the psychomotor stimulant d-amphetamine. This study successfully used a 3-choice operant procedure to establish MDMA and d-amphetamine as discriminative stimuli in rats. Cocaine produced complete substitution for d-amphetamine, and LSD produced dose-dependent increases in MDMA-appropriate responding with nearly complete substitution (78%) for MDMA. The hallucinogen 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine only partially substituted for MDMA and severely disrupted response rate. Fenfluramine and both isomers of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) all produced complete substitution for MDMA. The serotonin-receptor antagonist pirenpirone only partially blocked MDMA discrimination.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- MDMA Self-Administration in Laboratory Animals: A Summary of the Literature and Proposal for Future Research Neuropsychobiology 2009
- Examining the role of oxytocin in the interoceptive effects of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) using a drug discrimination paradigm in the rat Addiction Biology November 11, 2010
- Discriminative-Stimulus Effects of Synthetic Cathinones in Squirrel Monkeys The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology April 26, 2021
- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-like discriminative stimulus effects of seven cathinones in rats Behavioural Pharmacology June 1, 2020
- A Comparison of MDMA and Amphetamine in the Drug Discrimination Paradigm The Open Addiction Journal March 29, 2011
and 16 more in the library
Cites 15
- Differences Between the Mechanism of Action of MDMA, MBDB, and the Classic Hallucinogens. Identification of a New Therapeutic Class: Entactogens Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug British Journal of Addiction August 1, 1992
- The Psychological and Physiological Effects of MDMA on Normal Volunteers Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- Can Drugs Be Used to Enhance the Psychotherapeutic Process? American Journal of Psychotherapy July 1, 1986
- Neuropharmacological reassessment of the discriminative stimulus properties ofd-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) Psychopharmacology 1987
and 10 more in the library