Discriminative profile of MDMA.
Groups of rats were trained to discriminate the stimulus properties of dopaminergically and/or serotonergically active drugs, viz., apomorphine, fenfluramine, tetrahydro-beta-carboline (THBC) and l-cathinone. Once trained, these animals were given several doses of drugs used in training and dose-response relationships and ED50 values were generated. Subsequently, each group of trained rats was administered various doses of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to test generalization of the interoceptive cue of the drug used for training to MDMA. Rats trained to fenfluramine, THBC, and l-cathinone were observed to discriminate MDMA in a manner similar to the drug state to which they had been trained. Analysis of dose-response curves suggested that MDMA may be acting both as an indirect dopaminergic agonist and as a serotonergic receptor agonist. This duality of effect of MDMA has been evidenced by other studies and may account for its present abuse potential.
D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects
D000662:Amphetamines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D005277:Fenfluramine; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D001058:Apomorphine