The effect of acute MDMA administration on body temperature, serum corticosterone and neurotransmitter concentrations in male and female rats
Mairéad G. McNamara, John Kelly, Brian E. Leonard
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental September 1, 1995 DOI: 10.1002/hup.470100503 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Group-housed male and female rats |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 20 mg/kg, i.p. |
| Duration | Up to 4 h after MDMA administration |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Citations | 17 |
| Key findings | MDMA (20 mg/kg, i.p.) increased colonic temperature and serum corticosterone and depleted frontal cortex, hypothalamic, and striatal 5-HT and 5-HIAA in both male and female rats, while pineal 5-HT was resistant to depletion. Hypothalamic noradrenaline rose only in males. The authors report slight gender differences in susceptibility to MDMA-induced changes in rats. |
Abstract
Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the effect of acute administration of (±)3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (20 mg/kg, i.p.) on colonic temperature, serum corticosterone and brain biogenic amine concentrations in group‐housed male and female rats and to determine if there are any gender differences in susceptibility to MDMA‐induced changes. Prior to treatment, basal colonic temperatures were higher in female than in male rats (p <0·05). Temperatures were significantly increased 30 min following MDMA (20 mg/kg, i.p.) in male rats (p <0·05), and 120 min following MDMA in female rats (p <0·05), and were still elevated 240 min following MDMA administration in both sexes. Basal corticosterone concentrations were also higher in female than in male rats (p <0·05), prior to treatment. Serum corticosterone concentrations were significantly elevated in both male and female rates 15 min after MDMA administration (p <0·001), and remained elevated for up to 4 h following MDMA (p <0·001 and p <0·05 respectively). 5‐Hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) and 5‐hydroxy‐indole‐3‐acetic acid (5‐HIAA) concentrations were significantly depleted in the frontal cortex, hypothalamus and striatum of both male and female rats. However, pineal 5‐HT was resistant to depletion by MDMA in both male and female rats. The 5‐HIAA concentration was significantly reduced in the pineal gland of female rats, probably due to decreased catabolism of pineal 5‐HT. There was a profound decrease in the ratio 5‐HT/5‐HIAA in the frontal cortex but no changes occurred in these ratios in the striatum. hypothalamus or pineal gland in either male or female rats. Dopamine (DA) concentrations were increased and 3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl‐acetic acid (DOPAC) levels decreased in the striatum in both male and female rats 4 h after MDMA administration. The noradrenaline (NA) content of the hypothalamus was increased in male rats 30, 60 and 120 min post MDMA (p <0·05) but no changes were noted in the hypothalamus of female rats. This study indicates that there are slight gender differences in susceptibility to MDMA induced changes in rats.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- A developmental comparison of the neurobehavioral effects of ecstasy (MDMA) Neurotoxicology and Teratology October 21, 2006
- MDMA treatment paired with a trauma-cue promotes adaptive stress responses in a translational model of PTSD in rats Translational Psychiatry May 3, 2022
- Age differences in (±) 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)‐induced conditioned taste aversions and monoaminergic levels Developmental Psychobiology June 15, 2013
- Influence of adrenalectomy on the gut microbiome and MDMA-induced hyperthermia. European Journal of Pharmacology April 15, 2023
- Are there sex differences associated with the effects of ecstasy/3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)? Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2007
Cites 15
- Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) cause selective ablation of serotonergic axon terminals in forebrain: immunocytochemical evidence for neurotoxicity Journal of Neuroscience August 1, 1988
- Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1987
- 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy'. A report of five deaths associated with the use of MDEA and MDMA JAMA March 27, 1987
- (±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Selectively Damages Central Serotonergic Neurons in Nonhuman Primates JAMA July 1, 1988
- Can Drugs Be Used to Enhance the Psychotherapeutic Process? American Journal of Psychotherapy July 1, 1986
and 10 more in the library