Experience-dependent changes in temperature and behavioral activity induced by MDMA
María E. Reverón, Esther Y. Maier, Christine L. Duvauchelle
Physiology & Behavior August 1, 2006 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2006.06.021 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Intervention | MDMA self-administration |
| Dose | approx. 2.0-7.0 mg/kg/day |
| Duration | 20 days of daily 2-h operant sessions |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Self-administration Locomotor activity Saline Behavioral sensitization Hyperthermia Anesthesia Pharmacology |
| Citations | 23 |
| Key points | Rats that self-administered MDMA initially showed hypothermia and later hyperthermia, along with a progressive increase in locomotor activity over 20 sessions. |
Abstract
Hyperthermia and hyperlocomotor activity are commonly reported acute effects of high dose, experimenter-delivered 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). The current investigation was performed to determine short- to long-term physiological and behavioral changes induced by moderate intake MDMA self-administration. In the present study, rats self-administered MDMA (approx. 2.0-7.0 mg/kg/day) across 20 days during daily 2-h operant sessions. Locomotor activity was assessed during MDMA self-administration sessions and core temperatures were recorded before and after each session. Findings of the first several sessions showed core temperatures significantly decreased after MDMA self-administration compared to baseline and to a control group that self-administered saline during operant sessions. As sessions proceeded, the MDMA-induced hypothermic response diminished and core temperatures normalized, then increased during the last few sessions. Also, locomotor activity during MDMA self-administration sessions was initially equivalent to saline level activity, but increased by day 8 to significantly greater levels. Our findings demonstrate experience-dependent changes after voluntary administration of MDMA that are clearly observable in temperature regulation and behavioral activity.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- MDMA self‐administration in rats: acquisition, progressive ratio responding and serotonin transporter binding European Journal of Neuroscience November 16, 2007
- MDMA Self-Administration in Laboratory Animals: A Summary of the Literature and Proposal for Future Research Neuropsychobiology 2009
- High ambient temperature facilitates the acquisition of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) self-administration bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
- Assessment of the Reinforcing Properties of Orally Administered MDMA ('Ecstasy') in Rats 2010
- Comparison of the effects of abstinence on MDMA and cocaine self-administration in rats. Psychopharmacology November 2018
and 4 more in the library
Cites 18
- Small Changes in Ambient Temperature Cause Large Changes in 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-Induced Serotonin Neurotoxicity and Core Body Temperature in the Rat Journal of Neuroscience July 1, 1998
- Carrier‐Mediated Release of Serotonin by 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine: Implications for Serotonin‐Dopamine Interactions Journal of Neurochemistry 1996
- The pharmacology of the acute hyperthermic response that follows administration of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) to rats British Journal of Pharmacology 2002
- Age-dependent sensitivity of rats to the long-term effects of the serotonergic neurotoxicant (+/-)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) correlates with the magnitude of the MDMA-induced thermal response. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics October 1, 1995
- Repeated MDMA (“Ecstasy”) exposure in adolescent male rats alters temperature regulation, spontaneous motor activity, attention, and serotonin transporter binding Developmental Psychobiology 2005
and 13 more in the library