Sex differences in the neurochemical and functional effects of MDMA in Sprague-Dawley rats.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2007 Jan; 189(4):435-45.P

Abstract

RATIONALE

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "Ecstasy") use has been associated with acute toxicities and persistent depletion of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT).

OBJECTIVES

This study investigates whether sex differences in the acute and long-term effects of MDMA exist.

METHODS

Male and female rats received saline or 15 mg/kg MDMA, ip, bid for 4 days. Temperature was monitored on days 1 and 4. Locomotor activity was measured in a second cohort of animals on days 1 and 4 and after recovery on day 14. The effects of MDMA on performance in a plus maze task and brain levels of serotonin (5-HT) and the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined in a third cohort of animals 2 weeks after the last MDMA treatment.

RESULTS

Locomotor activity and temperature increased after MDMA administration on day 1. The drug-induced increases in temperature but not locomotion attenuated with repeated MDMA administration. Male and female MDMA-treated rats spent less time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and had less 5-HT and 5-HIAA in all brain regions 2 weeks after the end of treatment. Temperature effects of MDMA and persistent effects on plus maze and brain serotonin content were similar in males and females. In contrast, females exhibited markedly greater locomotor stimulation after acute MDMA and also showed sensitization to an acute challenge 2 weeks later.

CONCLUSIONS

MDMA elicits substantially greater locomotor activation in female rats than in males, but persistent effects on anxiety and serotonin content were similar in males and females.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Walker QD
Department of Pharmacology and Integrated Program in Toxicology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Williams CN
No affiliation info available
Jotwani RP
No affiliation info available
Waller ST
No affiliation info available
Francis R
No affiliation info available
Kuhn CM
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AnimalsAnxietyBehavior, AnimalBody TemperatureBrainFemaleHallucinogensHydroxyindoleacetic AcidMaleMaze LearningMotor ActivityN-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamineRatsRats, Sprague-DawleySerotoninSex CharacteristicsSex FactorsTime Factors

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17019566