The effect of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ?ecstasy?) and its metabolites on neurohypophysial hormone release from the isolated rat hypothalamus
Mary L. Forsling, John K. Fallon, Darshna Shah, Gary S Tilbrook, David J. Neep, Andrew T. Kicman, Andrew J. Hutt
British Journal of Pharmacology February 1, 2002 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704502 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | In vitro experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Isolated hypothalami from male Wistar rats |
| Interventions | MDMA HMMA DHA DHMA |
| Dose | 1 μM to 100 pM |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Vasopressin Oxytocin Endocrinology Hypothalamus Stimulation Neuropeptide Pharmacology |
| Citations | 77 |
| Key findings | MDMA and its metabolites, especially HMMA, stimulate vasopressin release more strongly than oxytocin release from rat hypothalami in a dose-dependent manner. |
Abstract
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”), widely used as a recreational drug, can produce hyponatraemia. The possibility that this could result from stimulation of vasopressin by MDMA or one of its metabolites has been investigated in vitro . Release of both oxytocin and vasopressin from isolated hypothalami obtained from male Wistar rats was determined under basal conditions and following potassium (40 m M ) stimulation. The results were compared with those obtained for basal and stimulated release in the presence of MDMA or metabolites in the dose range 1 μ M to 100 p M ( n =5 – 8) using Student's t ‐test with Dunnett's correction for multiple comparisons. All compounds tested affected neurohypophysial hormone release, HMMA (4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymethamphetamine) and DHA (3,4‐dihydroxyamphetamine) being more active than MDMA, and DHMA (3,4‐dihydroxymethamphetamine) being the least active. The effect on vasopressin release was greater than that on oxytocin. In the presence of HMMA the ratio test:control for basal release increased for vasopressin from 1.1±0.16 to 2.7±0.44 (s.e.m., P <0.05) at 10 n M and for oxytocin from 1.0±0.05 to 1.6±0.12 in the same hypothalami. For MDMA the ratio increased to 1.5±0.27 for vasopressin and to 1.28±0.04 for oxytocin for 10 n M . MDMA and its metabolites can stimulate both oxytocin and vasopressin release in vitro , the response being dose dependent for each drug with HMMA being the most potent. British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 135 , 649–656; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704502
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 40
- Human Pharmacology of MDMA Therapeutic Drug Monitoring March 19, 2004
- Oxytocin-dependent reopening of a social reward learning critical period with MDMA Nature April 3, 2019
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) neurotoxicity in rats: a reappraisal of past and present findings Psychopharmacology March 15, 2006
- Designer drugs: mechanism of action and adverse effects Archives of Toxicology April 1, 2020
- Dark Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine ACS Chemical Neuroscience July 12, 2018
and 35 more in the library
Cites 15
- Cardiovascular and neuroendocrine effects and pharmacokinetics of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in humans. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics July 1, 1999
- 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy'. A report of five deaths associated with the use of MDEA and MDMA JAMA March 27, 1987
- 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy' JAMA March 27, 1987
- Pharmacology of MDMA in Humans Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences September 1, 2000
- Stereospecific Analysis and Enantiomeric Disposition of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) in Humans Clinical Chemistry July 1, 1999
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