A role for the mesolimbic dopamine system in the psychostimulant actions of MDMA.
L H Gold, C B Hubner, G F Koob
Psychopharmacology 1989 DOI: 10.1007/bf00634450 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical experimental study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | MDMA Amphetamine 6-Hydroxydopamine lesions |
| Dose | 2.5-10.0 mg/kg, SC |
| Duration | Up to 4 h |
| Measures | locomotor activity in photocell cages |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | MDMA (2.5-10.0 mg/kg, SC) produced locomotor hyperactivity in rats lasting up to 4 hours. 6-Hydroxydopamine lesions of the nucleus accumbens attenuated this response, and also attenuated amphetamine-induced hyperactivity in the same rats. The authors suggest that MDMA's stimulant effects, like amphetamine's, may involve presynaptic dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. |
Abstract
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a phenylethylamine with a chemical structure that resembles both the amphetamines and mescaline and has both stimulant and perception altering properties. The stimulant properties of MDMA were assessed in photocell cages designed to measure locomotor activity in rats. MDMA, over a range of doses (2.5-10.0 mg/kg, SC) produced locomotor hyperactivity which lasted up to 4 h. Further studies examined the role of the mesolimbic dopamine system in the hyperactivity induced by MDMA. 6-Hydroxydopamine lesions of the Nucleus accumbens attenuated the locomotor response produced by MDMA. The well characterized attenuation of the locomotor response produced by amphetamine was also demonstrated in the same rats. The present study demonstrates similarities in the stimulant properties of MDMA and amphetamine, and also suggests that as with amphetamine, the locomotor activation associated with MDMA may involve the presynaptic release of dopamine in the region of the Nucleus accumbens. However, MDMA may have a more unusual pharmacological profile because of its longer duration of action, neurotoxic potential, and differences in the qualitative aspects of its psychoactive effects.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 23
- Serotonin–GABA interactions modulate MDMA‐induced mesolimbic dopamine release Journal of Neurochemistry October 27, 2004
- Amphetamine derivatives induce locomotor hyperactivity by acting as indirect serotonin agonists. Psychopharmacology 1991
- Experience-dependent changes in temperature and behavioral activity induced by MDMA Physiology & Behavior August 1, 2006
- PRECLINICAL STUDY: Atypical development of behavioural sensitization to 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’) in adolescent rats and its expression in adulthood: role of the MDMA chirality Addiction Biology 2010
- Balancing Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of MDMA and Novel MDXX Analogues as Novel Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychedelic Medicine September 1, 2023
and 18 more in the library
Cites 18
- Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1987
- 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine destroy serotonin terminals in rat brain: quantification of neurodegeneration by measurement of [3H]paroxetine-labeled serotonin uptake sites. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics September 1, 1987
- 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy'. A report of five deaths associated with the use of MDEA and MDMA JAMA March 27, 1987
- 'Eve' and 'Ecstasy' JAMA March 27, 1987
- Derivatives of 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine: representatives of a novel therapeutic class Journal of Medicinal Chemistry October 1, 1986
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