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MDMA self-administration fails to alter the behavioral response to 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(1B) agonists

Dane Aronsen1, Susan Schenk2

  • 1School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand.

Psychopharmacology
|February 10, 2016
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Repeated ecstasy (MDMA) use did not alter serotonin receptor 5-HT(1A) or 5-HT(1B) function in rats. These findings suggest that cognitive and behavioral deficits from MDMA are not caused by changes in these specific serotonin receptor mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Regular use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, leads to cognitive and behavioral deficits.
  • These deficits may stem from functional changes in serotonin (5-HT) receptors due to MDMA-induced 5-HT release.
  • The 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(1B) receptor subtypes are of particular interest due to their known roles in behaviors affected by MDMA and ecstasy use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of extensive MDMA self-administration on behavioral responses.
  • To assess the effects of specific serotonin receptor agonists, 8-hydroxy-2-(n-dipropylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and RU 24969, on these behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent daily MDMA or vehicle self-administration sessions.
  • Following the self-administration period, behavioral responses to 8-OH-DPAT (a 5-HT(1A) agonist) and RU 24969 (a 5-HT(1B/1A) agonist) were evaluated.
  • Specifically, hyperactivity and adipsia were measured as indicators of behavioral response.

Main Results:

  • MDMA self-administration did not alter the dose-dependent increase in horizontal activity induced by 8-OH-DPAT.
  • The adipsic response to RU 24969 remained unchanged in rats that self-administered MDMA compared to controls.
  • Neither 5-HT(1A) nor 5-HT(1B) receptor mechanisms showed functional alterations following extensive MDMA exposure.

Conclusions:

  • The study concludes that cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with repeated MDMA self-administration are unlikely to be caused by alterations in 5-HT(1A) or 5-HT(1B) receptor function.
  • These findings suggest that other neurobiological mechanisms may underlie the observed behavioral changes in MDMA users.
Keywords:
5-HT1A5-HT1B8-OH-DPATMDMARU 24969Self-administration

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