title: Weekend Ecstasy use disrupts memory in rats.
abstract: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, or "Ecstasy") is a popular recreational drug. However, its exposure is often limited to the weekends in a highly stimulating environment. The goal of this study was to investigate the behavioral domains of working and recognition memory within a model of "weekend" Ecstasy use. Rats self-administered MDMA during 2-h sessions on two consecutive days followed by five drug-free days. Coupling this intermittent dosing schedule with a novel object recognition task, we found non-spatial memory impaired after only two "weekends" of self-administered MDMA. Our findings suggest that MDMA at recreational use levels can disrupt memory processes.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2409 University Avenue, Stop A1915, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Leah M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: McAleer
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schallert
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Duvauchelle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
keywords: Habituation; MDMA; Memory; Rats; Recognition; Self-administration