Acute behavioural and neurotoxic effects of MDMA plus cocaine in adolescent mice.
Manuel Daza‐losada, Marta Rodríguez‐arias, Concepción Maldonado, María A. Aguilar, Consuelo Guerri, José Miñarro
Neurotoxicology and Teratology 2009 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2008.07.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adolescent mice |
| Interventions | MDMA Cocaine |
| Dose | MDMA 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg; cocaine 25 mg/kg |
| Measures | elevated plus maze, social interaction test, passive avoidance task |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | MDMA and cocaine, alone or combined, produced hyperactivity and fewer social contacts in adolescent mice. An anxiolytic effect occurred only with combined treatment. MDMA alone did not significantly alter brain monoamines, whereas MDMA plus cocaine decreased striatal dopamine and increased serotonin in the striatum and cortex 30 minutes after acute administration. The authors conclude that combined use produces a predominance of serotonin over dopamine, associated with an anxiolytic profile, defensive behaviors, and fewer social contacts. |
Abstract
The poly-drug pattern is the most common among those observed in MDMA users, with cocaine being a frequently associated drug. This study evaluates the acute effects of MDMA (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), alone or in combination with cocaine (25 mg/kg), on motor activity, anxiety (elevated plus maze and social interaction test), memory and brain monoamines in adolescent mice. Both drugs, administered alone or concurrently, produced hyperactivity and a decrease in social contacts. However, an anxiolytic effect, studied by means of the elevated plus maze and expressed as an increase in the time spent on the open arms, was observed only in those animals treated with cocaine and MDMA. The passive avoidance task was affected only with the highest MDMA dose (20 mg/kg). Mice treated with MDMA did not present significant changes in brain monoamines, while those receiving MDMA and cocaine showed a decrease in DA in the striatum, which was accompanied by an increase in the serotonin concentration in the striatum and cortex 30 min after acute administration. In conclusion, the combined use of MDMA and cocaine produces a predominance of serotonin over DA, which is associated with an anxiolytic profile, defensive behaviours and fewer social contacts.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
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- The Prosocial Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Controlled Studies in Humans and Laboratory Animals Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews September 25, 2015
- Use and abuse of dissociative and psychedelic drugs in adolescence Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior January 27, 2021
- Involvement of NMDA glutamate receptors in the acquisition and reinstatement of the conditioned place preference induced by MDMA Behavioural Pharmacology May 14, 2015
- Effects of acute social stress on the conditioned place preference induced by MDMA in adolescent and adult mice Behavioural Pharmacology September 1, 2014
- Psychedelics: A review of their effects on recalled aversive memories and fear/anxiety expression in rodents Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews September 20, 2024
and 15 more in the library
Cites 15
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- Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug British Journal of Addiction August 1, 1992
- Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Neurology December 1, 1998
- Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Journal of Psychopharmacology 1998
- A review of the acute subjective effects of MDMA/ecstasy Addiction March 24, 2006
and 10 more in the library