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Mechan A, Moran PM, Elliott JM, Young AMJ, Joseph MH, Green AR.
“A study of the effect of a single neurotoxic dose of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') on the subsequent long-term behavior in the plus maze and open field”.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002;159:167-175.
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Abstract
RATIONALE: Decreased 5-HT function has been shown to induce behaviour consistent with an 'anxiolytic' effect. Administration of a single dose of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') (12.5 mg/kg IP) to rats results in prolonged damage to central serotonergic nerve terminals. Thus we wished to assess whether an MDMA-induced lesion may have longer-term behavioural consequences. OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to examine the behavior of MDMA-pretreated nad control animals in the elevated plus-maze and open field at a number of time points, up to 80 days after the administration of a single neurotoxic dose of MDMA (12.5 mg/kg IP).
RESULTS: MDMA-pretreated Dark Agouti rats demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in anxiety-related behavior, compared to saline-pretreated control rats, in both the elevated plus maze and the open field when the rats were tested on Day 73 (open field) and day 80 (plus maze) after MDMA administration. Conclusions: the behavioral consequences of a single neurotoxic dose of MDMA can be demonstrated over two months after administration of the compound, thereby indicating that long-term adaptive changes occur within the brain following the neurodegeneration of of 5-HT neurones produced by this recreatinoally used drug.
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