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Aguilar MA, García-Pardo MP, Parrott AC. Of mice and men on MDMA: A translational comparison of the neuropsychobiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy'). Brain Res 2020; 1727:146556. [PMID: 31734398 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
MDMA (3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine), also known as Ecstasy, is a stimulant drug recreationally used by young adults usually in dance clubs and raves. Acute MDMA administration increases serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline by reversing the action of the monoamine transporters. In this work, we review the studies carried out over the last 30 years on the neuropsychobiological effects of MDMA in humans and mice and summarise the current knowledge. The two species differ with respect to the neurochemical consequences of chronic MDMA, since it preferentially induces serotonergic dysfunction in humans and dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice. However, MDMA alters brain structure and function and induces hormonal, psychomotor, neurocognitive, psychosocial and psychiatric outcomes in both species, as well as physically damaging and teratogen effects. Pharmacological and genetic studies in mice have increased our knowledge of the neurochemical substrate of the multiple effects of MDMA. Future work in this area may contribute to developing pharmacological treatments for MDMA-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Aguilar
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain.
| | | | - Andrew C Parrott
- Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia
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García-Pardo MP, De la Rubia Ortí JE, Aguilar Calpe MA. Differential effects of MDMA and cocaine on inhibitory avoidance and object recognition tests in rodents. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 146:1-11. [PMID: 29081371 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Drug addiction continues being a major public problem faced by modern societies with different social, health and legal consequences for the consumers. Consumption of psychostimulants, like cocaine or MDMA (known as ecstasy) are highly prevalent and cognitive and memory impairments have been related with the abuse of these drugs. AIM The aim of this work was to review the most important data of the literature in the last 10 years about the effects of cocaine and MDMA on inhibitory avoidance and object recognition tests in rodents. DEVELOPMENT The object recognition and the inhibitory avoidance tests are popular procedures used to assess different types of memory. We compare the effects of cocaine and MDMA administration in these tests, taking in consideration different factors such as the period of life development of the animals (prenatal, adolescence and adult age), the presence of polydrug consumption or the role of environmental variables. Brain structures involved in the effects of cocaine and MDMA on memory are also described. CONCLUSIONS Cocaine and MDMA induced similar impairing effects on the object recognition test during critical periods of lifetime or after abstinence of prolonged consumption in adulthood. Deficits of inhibitory avoidance memory are observed only in adult rodents exposed to MDMA. Psychostimulant abuse is a potential factor to induce memory impairments and could facilitate the development of future neurodegenerative disorders.
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Farré M, Tomillero A, Pérez-Mañá C, Yubero S, Papaseit E, Roset PN, Pujadas M, Torrens M, Camí J, de la Torre R. Human pharmacology of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) after repeated doses taken 4 h apart Human pharmacology of MDMA after repeated doses taken 4 h apart. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 25:1637-49. [PMID: 26073279 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is a popular psychostimulant, frequently associated with multiple administrations over a short period of time. Repeated administration of MDMA in experimental settings induces tolerance and metabolic inhibition. The aim is to determine the acute pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics resulting from two consecutive 100mg doses of MDMA separated by 4h. Ten male volunteers participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial. The four conditions were placebo plus placebo, placebo plus MDMA, MDMA plus placebo, and MDMA plus MDMA. Outcome variables included pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetic parameters. After a second dose of MDMA, most effects were similar to those after a single dose, despite a doubling of MDMA concentrations (except for systolic blood pressure and reaction time). After repeated MDMA administration, a 2-fold increase was observed in MDMA plasma concentrations. For a simple dose accumulation MDMA and MDA concentrations were higher (+23.1% Cmax and +17.1% AUC for MDMA and +14.2% Cmax and +10.3% AUC for MDA) and HMMA and HMA concentrations lower (-43.3% Cmax and -39.9% AUC for HMMA and -33.2% Cmax and -35.1% AUC for HMA) than expected, probably related to MDMA metabolic autoinhibition. Although MDMA concentrations doubled after the second dose, most pharmacological effects were similar or slightly higher in comparison to the single administration, except for systolic blood pressure and reaction time which were greater than predicted. The pharmacokinetic-effects relationship suggests that when MDMA is administered at a 4h interval there exists a phenomenon of acute tolerance to its effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magí Farré
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Parc de Salut Mar-UAB), Barcelona, Spain; Clinical Pharmacology Unit. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol-IGTP, Badalona, Spain.
| | - Angels Tomillero
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Parc de Salut Mar-UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Pérez-Mañá
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Parc de Salut Mar-UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Samanta Yubero
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Papaseit
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Parc de Salut Mar-UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere-Nolasc Roset
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Parc de Salut Mar-UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mitona Pujadas
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Torrens
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Parc de Salut Mar-UAB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions. Adiction Unit and IMIM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Camí
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Human Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03), CIBEROBN, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Viñals X, Maldonado R, Robledo P. Effects of repeated treatment with MDMA on working memory and behavioural flexibility in mice. Addict Biol 2013; 18:263-73. [PMID: 22260267 DOI: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2011.00421.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Repeated administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) produces dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice. However, it is still not clear whether this exposure induces deficits in cognitive processing related to specific subsets of executive functioning. We evaluated the effects of neurotoxic and non-neurotoxic doses of MDMA (0, 3 and 30 mg/kg, twice daily for 4 days) on working memory and attentional set-shifting in mice, and changes in extracellular levels of dopamine (DA) in the striatum. Treatment with MDMA (30 mg/kg) disrupted performance of acquired operant alternation, and this impairment was still apparent 5 days after the last drug administration. Decreased alternation was not related to anhedonia because no differences were observed between groups in the saccharin preference test under similar experimental conditions. Correct responding on delayed alternation was increased 1 day after repeated treatment with MDMA (30 mg/kg), probably because of general behavioural quiescence. Notably, the high dose regimen of MDMA impaired attentional set-shifting related to an increase in total perseveration errors. Finally, basal extracellular levels of DA in the striatum were not modified in mice repeatedly treated with MDMA with respect to controls. However, an acute challenge with MDMA (10 mg/kg) failed to increase DA outflow in mice receiving the highest MDMA dose (30 mg/kg), corroborating a decrease in the functionality of DA transporters. Seven days after this treatment, the effects of MDMA on DA outflow were recovered. These results suggest that repeated neurotoxic doses of MDMA produce lasting impairments in recall of alternation behaviour and reduce cognitive flexibility in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Viñals
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Spain
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