An Appraisal of the Pharmacological and Toxicological Effects of a Single Oral Administration of 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the Rat
Ivone de Souza, John R. Kelly, Andrew Harkin, Brian E. Leonard
Pharmacology & Toxicology May 1, 1997 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0773.1997.tb01961.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adult female rats |
| Interventions | 3 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA |
| Dose | 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg orally |
| Duration | 8 hours (hyperthermia), 9 hours (hyperactivity) |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Keywords | Oral administration Pharmacology Serotonin syndrome Hyperthermia Body weight Hallucinogen Drug Anesthesia |
| Citations | 29 |
| Key findings | Acute oral MDMA administration caused dose-related hyperthermia, reduced food and water intake, hyperactivity at lower doses, and serotonin syndrome at higher doses, with deaths from 40 mg/kg upward. |
Abstract
Abstract: This study examined some acute pharmacological and toxicological effects of 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) over a range of doses (20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg orally) in adult female rats. Deaths were observed from the 40 mg/kg MDMA group onwards. Reductions in body weight change, food and water intake were found in the 80 mg/kg group, whilst food intake alone was reduced in the 20 and 40 mg/kg groups. Significant hyperthermic responses were found over the first 8 hr following MDMA administration which were dose‐related. A significant hyperactivity of approximately 9 hr duration was observed in the 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg groups, whereas there was evidence of a serotonin syndrome in the higher dosage groups. Thus, acute oral administration of MDMA results in a variety of measurable responses. The cause of death in this study is probably a combination of serotonin syndrome and hyperthermia.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 12
- Cutaneous Vasoconstriction Contributes to Hyperthermia Induced by 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) in Conscious Rabbits Journal of Neuroscience November 1, 2001
- A developmental comparison of the neurobehavioral effects of ecstasy (MDMA) Neurotoxicology and Teratology October 21, 2006
- PRECLINICAL STUDY: Changes in leptin, ghrelin, growth hormone and neuropeptide‐Y after an acute model of MDMA and methamphetamine exposure in rats Addiction Biology October 2, 2007
- Development and Characterization of a Novel Animal Model of Intermittent MDMA (“Ecstasy”) Exposure during Adolescence Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences October 1, 2008
- Hofmann vs. Paracelsus: Do Psychedelics Defy the Basics of Toxicology?—A Systematic Review of the Main Ergolamines, Simple Tryptamines, and Phenylethylamines Toxics February 3, 2023
and 7 more in the library
Cites 12
- Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1987
- The Background and Chemistry of MDMA Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-induced hyperthermia and neurotoxicity are independently mediated by 5-HT2 receptors Brain Research October 1, 1990
- MDMA: Nonmedical Use and Intoxication Journal of Psychoactive Drugs October 1, 1986
- A Fatal Trip with Ecstasy: A Case of 3,4-Methylene-Dioxymethamphetamine/ 3,4-Methylenedioxy-Amphetamine Toxicity Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 1996
and 7 more in the library