Methylenedioxymethamphetamine's capacity to establish place preferences and modify intake of an alcoholic beverage

Doses of 0.2, 2.0, 6.3 and 20.0 mg/kg 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a putative neurotoxin at serotonergic neurons and a recreational drug, were assessed using Sprague-Dawley rats in the conditioned place preference (CPP) test. Also, the drug's effects on intake of a sweetened ethanol solution (ES) was assessed. The CP testing involved multiple administrations of MDMA with frequent periodic testing (weekly for 4 weeks) of MDMA's effects. Doses of 2.0 and 6.3 mg/kg produced positive CPPs with every test. MDMA also affected rats' gain in body weight across the 4 weeks of dosing. The 2.0 mg/kg reliably incremented gain in body weight, while the 20.0 mg/kg dose reliably attenuated it. In the drinking experiment, water-deprived rats (22 h/day) were given daily opportunities to drink either tap water or a sweetened ES. When stable intakes were achieved, MDMA's effects were assessed across repeated daily administrations (12 days) and subsequently (16 days). MDMA, dose-relatedly, decreased intake of both ES and water with the highest dose leading to marked loss in body weight. Intakes of fluids were not modified markedly subsequent to dosing. In summary, MDMA is an agent that produces a positive CPP (providing further evidence for MDMA's abuse liability), produces changes in weight gain and nonselectively reduces fluid intake among fluid-deprived rats.