Effects of MDMA on blood glucose levels and brain glucose metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess changes in glucose metabolism in rats administered single or repeated doses of MDMA.


METHODS
Two different experiments were performed: (1) A single-dose study with four groups receiving 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, saline or heat, and (2) a repeated-dose study with two groups receiving three doses, at intervals of 2 h, of 5 mg/kg or saline. Rats were imaged using a dedicated small-animal PET scanner 1 h after single-dose administration or 7 days after repeated doses. Glucose metabolism was measured in 12 cerebral regions of interest. Rectal temperature and blood glucose were monitored.


RESULTS
Peak body temperature was reached 1 h after MDMA administration. Blood glucose levels decreased significantly after MDMA administration. In the single-dose experiment, brain glucose metabolism showed hyperactivation in cerebellum and hypo-activation in the hippocampus, amygdala and auditory cortex. In the repeated-dose experiment, brain glucose metabolism did not show any significant change at day 7.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are the first to indicate that MDMA has the potential to produce significant hypoglycaemia. In addition, they show that MDMA alters glucose metabolism in components of the motor, limbic and somatosensory systems acutely but not on a long-term basis.
Soto-Montenegro
M L
ML
Laboratorio de Imagen, Medicina Experimental, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Dr. Esquerdo, 46, 28007, Madrid, Spain.
Vaquero
J J
JJ
Arango
C
C
Ricaurte
G
G
García-Barreno
P
P
Desco
M
M
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000378:metabolism; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D001786:Blood Glucose; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine