Evaluating the Contribution of Serotonin Receptor Subtypes and ‘Binge’ 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Exposure to the Discriminative Stimulus Effects of MDMA in Rats
The Open Addiction Journal March 29, 2011 DOI: 10.2174/1874941001104010055 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key points | Proposes that a three-way drug discrimination paradigm can be used to study MDMA's serotonergic effects by training rats to distinguish dopaminergic stimulant effects from serotonergic effects. |
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ‘Ecstasy’) shares psychoactive effects with drugs that possess stimulant (e.g. amphetamine, the effects of which are primarily dopaminergic) and hallucinogenic properties (e.g. LSD, which has serotonergic effects) [1]. The majority of MDMA’s distinctive effects as well as its toxicity have been linked to its actions on serotonergic neurotransmission [2]. One way in which MDMA’s serotonergic effects can be studied is to train rats to distinguish dopaminergic stimulant effects from mood and perception-altering serotonergic effects using a three-way drug discrimination paradigm [3].