Behavioral effects of (+-) 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and (+-) 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the pigeon: interactions with noradrenergic and serotonergic systems.
M A Nader, S M Hoffmann, J E Barrett
Psychopharmacology 1989 DOI: 10.1007/bf00444689 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Behavioral pharmacology experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Pigeons key pecking under a multiple fixed-interval, fixed-ratio schedule of food presentation |
| Interventions | MDA MDMA MDE Metergoline Ketanserin Prazosin |
| Dose | MDA, MDMA, and MDE: 0.1-10.0 mg/kg; Metergoline: 0.1-1.0 mg/kg; Ketanserin: 0.1-3.0 mg/kg; Prazosin: 0.3-3.0 mg/kg |
| Topics | MDMA Serotonin |
| Key findings | MDA, MDMA, and MDE either had no effect or decreased response rates dose-dependently, with MDA at least 1 log unit more potent. Metergoline and ketanserin blocked MDA's rate-decreasing effects but not MDMA's, while prazosin blocked MDMA's effects but not MDA's. The authors conclude that MDA and MDMA, though structurally similar, appear to act through different neurotransmitter systems. |
Abstract
The effects of three amphetamine analogs were assessed in pigeons key pecking under a multiple 3-min fixed-interval (FI), 30 response fixed-ratio (FR) schedule of food presentation. At doses between 0.1 and 10.0 mg/kg, (+-) 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), (+-) 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and (+-)-N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDE) either had no effect or decreased response rates in both components of the multiple schedule in a dose-dependent manner. MDA was at least 1 log unit more potent than the other two compounds. Metergoline (0.1-1.0 mg/kg), a serotonin (5-HT) antagonist with comparable affinity for the 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor subtypes, blocked the rate-decreasing effects of 3.0 mg/kg MDA in both components of the multiple schedule, but did not affect the MDMA dose-response curve. The 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin (0.1-3.0 mg/kg) also restored FI and FR responding that was decreased by 3.0 mg/kg MDA, but had no effect on responding suppressed by MDMA. The noradrenergic alpha-1 antagonist prazosin (0.3-3.0 mg/kg) blocked the behavioral effects of 3.0 mg/kg MDMA at doses that did not attenuate MDA's rate-decreasing effects. These results indicate that although MDA and MDMA are structurally similar and have similar behavioral effects, their actions appear to be mediated through different neurotransmitter systems.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphetamine-type central nervous system stimulants release norepinephrine more potently than they release dopamine and serotonin | 2000 | Experimental study | |
| Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) cause selective ablation of serotonergic axon terminals in forebrain: immunocytochemical evidence for neurotoxicity Rat brain | 1988 | Experimental study | |
| The molecular mechanism of "ecstasy" [3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA)]: serotonin transporters are targets for MDMA-induced serotonin release. Human platelet plasma membrane vesicles and bovine adrenal chromaffin granule membrane... | 1992 | Laboratory study | |
| Oxytocin-dependent reopening of a social reward learning critical period with MDMA | 2019 | Experimental study | |
| Effects of certain hallucinogenic amphetamine analogs on the release of [3H]-serotonin from rat brain synaptosomes Rat whole brain synaptosomes | 1982 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- The Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology of 3,4‐methylenedioxy‐N‐ethyl‐amphetamine (MDEA) CNS Drug Reviews June 1, 2004
- MDMA and memory: the acute and chronic effects of MDMA in pigeons performing under a delayed-matching-to-sample procedure Psychopharmacology February 1, 1993
- Effects of repeated MDMA administration on the motivation for palatable food and extinction of operant responding in mice. Psychopharmacology March 1, 2010
- Acute effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on several complex brain functions in monkeys. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior 1995
- Psychomotor stimulant effects of d-amphetamine, MDMA and PCP: aggressive and schedule-controlled behavior in mice. Psychopharmacology July 1994
and 2 more in the library
Cites 17
- Evidence for 5-HT2 involvement in the mechanism of action of hallucinogenic agents. Life Sciences December 17, 1984
- Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1987
- Hallucinogenic Amphetamine Selectively Destroys Brain Serotonin Nerve Terminals Science September 6, 1985
- Effects of certain hallucinogenic amphetamine analogs on the release of [3H]-serotonin from rat brain synaptosomes Journal of Medicinal Chemistry May 1, 1982
- Methylenedioxyamphetamine. Clinical description of overdose, death, and review of pharmacology Archives of Internal Medicine October 1, 1981
and 12 more in the library