title: 3,4-N-methlenedioxymethamphetamine-induced hypophagia is maintained in 5-HT1B receptor knockout mice, but suppressed by the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist RS102221.
abstract: 3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA or 'ecstasy') is a psychoactive substance, first described as an appetite suppressant in humans, inducing side effects and even death. MDMA increases serotonin (5-HT) levels, and 5-HT inhibits food intake, but the 5-HT receptors involved in MDMA-induced changes in feeding behavior are unknown. We examined whether a systemic MDMA injection would reduce the physiological drive to eat in starved mice and tested if the inactivation of 5-HT1B or 5-HT2C receptors could restore this response. Our results indicate that in starved mice, MDMA (10 mg/kg) provoked an initial hypophagia for 1 h (-77%) followed by a period of hyperphagia (studied between 1 and 3 h). This biphasic feeding behavior due to MDMA treatment was maintained in 5-HT1B receptor-null mice or in animals treated with the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist GR127935 (3 or 10 mg/kg). In contrast, MDMA-induced hypophagia (for the first 1 h period) was suppressed when combined with the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist RS102221 (2 mg/kg). However, RS102221 did not alter MDMA-induced hyperphagia (for the 1-3 h period) but did exert a stimulant effect, when administered alone, during that period. We have previously shown that MDMA or 5-HT1A/1B receptor agonist RU24969 fails to stimulate locomotor activity in 5-HT1B receptor-null mice. Our present data indicate that the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist RS102221 suppresses MDMA-induced hyperlocomotion. These findings provide the first evidence that the inactivation of 5-HT2C receptors may reduce hypophagia and motor response to MDMA, while a genetic deficit or pharmacological inactivation of 5-HT1B receptors was insufficient to alter the feeding response to MDMA.
authors.affiliation: UPR CNRS 5203, Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conductier
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crosson
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hen
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bockaert
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Compan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010069:Oxadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000187:drug effects*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013217:Starvation / Q000523:psychology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C107821:8-(5-(5-amino-2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-oxopentyl)-1,3,8-triazaspiro(4.5)decane-2,4-dione; D006213:Hallucinogens; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D010879:Piperazines; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D013449:Sulfonamides; C090701:GR 127935; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine