Amphetamine derivatives induce locomotor hyperactivity by acting as indirect serotonin agonists.
Derivatives of amphetamine are potent releasers of both dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT), but the relative contributions of DA and 5-HT release to the behavioral effects of these drugs have not been established. Previously, S-(+)3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (S-(+)MDMA) was found to produce locomotor hyperactivity in rats which was dependent on 5-HT release. The present study found that MBDB (1.25, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 mg/kg), the alpha-ethyl derivative of MDMA that produces little or no direct DA release, also induced locomotor hyperactivity that lasted for greater than 60 min after the 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg doses. MBDB produced spatial patterns of locomotor hyperactivity and suppression of exploratory activity (holepokes and rearings) very similar to the behavioral syndrome produced by MDMA. MBDB-induced hyperactivity was blocked by pretreatment with the selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor fluoxetine (2.5 or 10 mg/kg), suggesting that MBDB produced behavioral effects via uptake-carrier mediated release of 5-HT. Similarly, fluoxetine pretreatment blocked the locomotor hyperactivity produced by S-(+)3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (3.0 mg/kg) or p-chloroamphetamine (2.5 mg/kg), supporting a serotonergic basis for the action of these drugs. Tissue levels of 5-HT and its metabolite 5-HIAA were decreased 40 min after administration of S-(+)MDMA (3.0 mg/kg) or MBDB (5.0 mg/kg), and these decreases were prevented by fluoxetine pretreatment. S-(+)MDMA also produced a fluoxetine-sensitive increase of tissue DA levels, suggesting that 5-HT release may indirectly result in increased DA release, although MBDB did not significantly increase DA levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Callaway
C W
CW
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla 92093-0804.
Johnson
M P
MP
Gold
L H
LH
Nichols
D E
DE
Geyer
M A
MA
D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D010133:p-Chloroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000662:Amphetamines; D001679:Biogenic Amines; D005473:Fluoxetine; C051570:N-methyl-1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-butanamine; D012701:Serotonin; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D010133:p-Chloroamphetamine