Self-administration of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) by rhesus monkeys.
P M Beardsley, R L Balster, L S Harris
Drug and Alcohol Dependence October 1986 DOI: 10.1016/0376-8716(86)90047-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal self-administration experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4 |
| Population | Rhesus monkeys trained to self-administer intravenous cocaine |
| Interventions | MDMA Cocaine |
| Dose | 3-300 micrograms/kg per infusion |
| Duration | Daily 1-h sessions |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | Three of four monkeys self-administered at least one MDMA dose at rates exceeding the saline range, and two self-administered an MDMA dose at a higher rate than cocaine. The authors conclude that MDMA can serve as a positive reinforcer in rhesus monkeys and suggest a potential for recreational use of MDMA by humans. |
Abstract
Four rhesus monkeys trained to press levers for intravenous cocaine infusions were tested with saline and (+/-)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 3-300 micrograms/kg per infusion) during daily 1-h sessions. From four to over nine times more cocaine infusions were obtained than saline infusions during baseline sessions. When MDMA was substituted for cocaine, at least one dose was self-administered in 3 of the 4 monkeys at rates that exceeded the range of saline infusions. In fact, two of the monkeys self-administered a dose of MDMA at a greater rate than cocaine. These results demonstrate that MDMA can serve as a positive reinforcer for rhesus monkeys and, taken together with other preclinical behavioral studies, suggest a potential for recreational use of MDMA by humans.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 57
- 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”): pharmacology and toxicology in animals and humans Addiction May 1, 1994
- Ecstasy (MDMA) dependence Drug and Alcohol Dependence January 7, 1999
- MDMA self‐administration in rats: acquisition, progressive ratio responding and serotonin transporter binding European Journal of Neuroscience November 16, 2007
- The ugly side of amphetamines: short- and long-term toxicity of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’), methamphetamine and d-amphetamine Biological Chemistry January 2, 2011
- Reinforcing Effects of MDMA (‘Ecstasy’) in Drug-Naive and Cocaine-Trained Rats Pharmacology 2001
and 52 more in the library
Cites 3
- Discriminative stimulus properties of (+/-)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and (+/-)-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine in pigeons. Drug and Alcohol Dependence October 1986
- The effects of (+/-)-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and (+/-)-methylenedioxyamphetamine in monkeys trained to discriminate (+)-amphetamine from saline. Drug and Alcohol Dependence October 1, 1986
- Further investigation of the discriminative stimulus properties of MDA. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior April 1984