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MDMA reinstates cocaine-seeking behaviour in mice.

José Manuel Trigo, María Juliana Orejarena, Rafaël Maldonado, Patricia Robledo

European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology June 2009 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.12.010 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Experimental animal study Peer reviewed
Population CD1 mice trained to self-administer cocaine
Interventions MDMA d-amphetamine saline
Dose MDMA 10 mg/kg; d-amphetamine 1 and 2 mg/kg
Topics MDMA
Key findings Acute MDMA (10 mg/kg) reinstated cocaine-seeking behavior in mice after extinction, while d-amphetamine (1 and 2 mg/kg) and saline did not, suggesting MDMA's potential to trigger relapse.

Abstract

MDMA effects are mediated by monoaminergic systems, which seem to play a central role in cocaine craving and relapse. CD1 mice trained to self-administer cocaine (1 mg/kg/infusion) underwent an extinction procedure in which the cues contingent with drug self-administration remained present. Mice achieving extinction were injected with MDMA (10 mg/kg), d-amphetamine (1 and 2 mg/kg) or saline and tested for reinstatement. Acute MDMA, but not d-amphetamine or saline reinstated cocaine-seeking behaviour in mice in which cocaine self-administration and contingent cues were previously extinguished. Acute MDMA can reinstate cocaine-seeking behaviour in mice.