European Neuropsychopharmacology
December 2010
Allison A. Feduccia, Nundhun Kongovi, Christine L. Duvauchelle
There is a concern that hot environments enhance adverse effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy"). In this study, long-term (4-weeks) daily MDMA self-administration sessions and an MDMA Challenge test were conducted with rats under normal and high thermal conditions (23° or 32°C). During MDMA self-administration sessions, activity and body temperature were increased by...
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
November 26, 2010
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine alters left ventricular function and activates nuclear factor-Kappa B (NF-κB) in a time and dose dependent manner.
Neurochemistry International
November 11, 2010
Comparative neurochemical profile of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its metabolite alpha-methyldopamine on key targets of MDMA neurotoxicity.
Addiction Biology
November 11, 2010
Jillian H. Broadbear, Brendan J. Tunstall, Katherine Beringer
38 citations
ABSTRACT 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ‘ecstasy’) use results in distinctive mood changes of a prosocial nature, most likely through its enhancement of serotonin (5HT) neurotransmission. Activation of 5HT‐1A postsynaptic receptors has been shown to stimulate the release of oxytocin in the central nervous system where it regulates aspects of mood and behavior. Using a drug...
Advances in Consciousness Research
October 28, 2010
Andrew C. Parrott
The willingness of humans to take psychoactive drugs may reflect an unconscious optimism bias, where users focus on desired aims rather than actual consequences. A series of in-depth interviews will illustrate the experiences and explicit knowledge of recreational Ecstasy/MDMA users. Next an unpublished empirical study will be described, where four subgroups of Ecstasy users reported that MDMA...
Neuropsychobiology
October 20, 2010
Andrew Scholey, Lauren Owen, J. R. Gates et al.
46 citations
<i>Aims:</i> Our group has conducted several Internet investigations into the biobehavioural effects of self-reported recreational use of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or Ecstasy) and other psychosocial drugs. Here we report a new study examining the relationship between self-reported Ecstasy use and traces of MDMA found in hair samples. <i>Methods:</i> In a laboratory setting, 49...
European Journal of Pharmacology
October 14, 2010
A role for adenosine A(1) receptor blockade in the ability of caffeine to promote MDMA "Ecstasy"-induced striatal dopamine release.
Biological Psychiatry
October 14, 2010
Is ecstasy an "empathogen"? Effects of ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on prosocial feelings and identification of emotional states in others.
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
October 14, 2010
María Juliana Orejarena, Laurence Lanfumey, Rafaël Maldonado et al.
38 citations
The serotonergic system appears crucial for (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) reinforcing properties. Current evidence indicates that serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) modulate mesolimbic dopamine (DA) activity and several behavioural responses related to the addictive properties of psychostimulants. This study evaluated the role of 5-HT2ARs in MDMA-induced reinforcement and...
Synapse
October 8, 2010
Charles V. Vorhees, Elizabeth He, Matthew R. Skelton et al.
(+)‐Methamphetamine (MA), (±)‐3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), (+)‐amphetamine (AMPH), and (±)‐fenfluramine (FEN) are phenylethylamines with CNS effects. At higher doses, each induces protracted reductions in brain dopamine (DA) and/or serotonin. Chronic MA and MDMA users show persistent monoamine reductions and cognitive impairments. In rats, similar neurochemical effects can be...