title: MDMA ('Ecstasy') enhances 5-HT1A receptor density and 8-OH-DPAT-induced hypothermia: blockade by drugs preventing 5-hydroxytryptamine depletion.
abstract: One week after a single administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA HCI, 30 mg/kg i.p.), 5-HT1A receptor density was significantly increased by approximately 25-30% in the frontal cortex and hypothalamus of rats. The increased density correlated with the potentiation of the hypothermic response to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT, 1 mg/kg s.c.). Hypothalamic 5-HT7 receptors, which also bind 8-OH-DPAT, were not changed, however, by MDMA. Fluoxetine (5 mg/kg s.c.), ketanserin (5 mg/kg s.c.) or haloperidol (2 mg/kg i.p.), given 15 min prior to MDMA, prevented the depletion of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) induced by MDMA and also blocked the effects of this neurotoxin on 5-HT1A receptor density and on 8-OH-DPAT-induced hypothermia. The protection afforded by drugs against 5-HT loss did not correlate, however, with the antagonism of the acute hyperthermic effect of MDMA. The present results indicate that drugs able to prevent or to attenuate MDMA-induced 5-HT loss also prevent the changes in 5-HT1A receptor density as well as the enhanced hypothermic response to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT in MDMA-treated rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Navarra Medical School, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ballaz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lasheras
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Río
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors