Serotonergic deficits and impaired passive-avoidance learning in rats by MDEA: a comparison with MDMA.
Meritxell Barrionuevo, Norberto Aguirre, J D Del Río, Berta Lasheras
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior February 2000 DOI: 10.1016/s0091-3057(99)00170-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | MDEA MDMA WAY 100635 8-OH-DPAT |
| Dose | MDEA 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg IP; repeated 40 mg/kg IP b.i.d. for 4 days; MDEA 20 mg/kg IP before training; MDMA dose not specified |
| Duration | 7 days after single or repeated administration |
| Measures | 5-HT content, 5-HT transporter density, 5-HT1A receptor density, plasma corticosterone levels, passive-avoidance retention performance |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Key findings | Repeated MDEA administration (40 mg/kg b.i.d. for 4 days) caused marked long-term reductions in 5-HT content and transporter density, while single doses only at 40 mg/kg had similar effects. MDEA-induced retention deficits were not blocked by WAY 100635, indicating they were not mediated by 5-HT1A receptor activation. |
Abstract
The serotonergic deficits induced by 3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine (MDEA, "eve"), were examined and compared with 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy"). A single dose of MDEA (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg IP) induced a dose-related hyperthermia, but only the highest dose significantly reduced 5-HT content and 5-HT transporter density in the frontal cortex and in the hippocampus 7 days later. Long-term serotonergic deficits were much more marked when MDEA was given repeatedly (40 mg/kg IP., b.i.d., for 4 consecutive days). Single or repeated administration of MDEA induced no change on 5-HT1A receptor density in the frontal cortex, brain stem, or hippocampus, although 3 h after both treatments plasma corticosterone levels were significantly increased. MDEA (5-20 mg/kg, IP) produced significant retention deficits in a passive-avoidance learning task. Conversely, 7 days after the repeated administration of MDEA (40 mg/kg b.i.d., for 4 consecutive days) no effect on passive-avoidance performance was observed unless rats were treated again with another dose of MDEA (20 mg/kg IP) 30 min before the training trial. The 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, WAY 100635, prevented the impairment in retention performance induced by 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), but not by MDEA or MDMA, indicating that the effect of these amphetamine derivates was not mediated by 5-HT1A receptor activation. The results suggest the risk of serotonergic dysfunction associated with MDEA abuse in humans.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 13
- Beyond ecstasy: Alternative entactogens to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine with potential applications in psychotherapy Journal of Psychopharmacology September 10, 2020
- The Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology of 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐N‐ethyl‐amphetamine (MDEA) CNS Drug Reviews June 1, 2004
- Acute and chronic effects of MDMA on molecular mechanisms implicated in memory formation in rat hippocampus: surface expression of CaMKII and NMDA receptor subunits. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior September 9, 2005
- MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Growing evidence for memory effects mediating treatment efficacy. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry January 10, 2024
- Acute MDMA and Nicotine Co-administration: Behavioral Effects and Oxidative Stress Processes in Mice Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience August 2, 2018
and 8 more in the library
Cites 13
- Positron emission tomographic evidence of toxic effect of MDMA (“Ecstasy”) on brain serotonin neurons in human beings The Lancet October 1, 1998
- Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Neurology December 1, 1998
- 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
- Pathology of deaths associated with "ecstasy" and "eve" misuse. Journal of Clinical Pathology February 1, 1996
- Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Journal of Psychopharmacology 1998
and 8 more in the library