title: MDMA (ecstasy) modulates locomotor and prefrontal cortex sensory evoked activity.
abstract: Ingestion of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) leads to heightened response to sensory stimulation; thus, MDMA is referred to as "ecstasy" because it produces pleasurable enhancement of such sensation. There have been no electrophysiological studies that report the consequences of MDMA on sensory input. The present study was initiated to study the effects of acute and chronic MDMA on locomotor activity and sensory evoked field potential from freely behaving rats previously implanted with permanent electrodes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The main findings of this study are that: (1) acute MDMA augments locomotor behavior and attenuates the incoming sensory input, (2) chronic treatment of MDMA elicits behavioral sensitization, (3) chronic administration of MDMA results in attenuation of the baseline activity of the sensory evoked field potential, and (4) administration of rechallenge MDMA result in enhancement of the PFC sensory evoked field potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas-Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77225, USA.
authors.forename: Kristal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: Tilithia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burks
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Swann
authors.forename: Nachum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dafny
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010465:Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine