Abstract | RATIONALE: Illicit use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ( MDMA, Ecstasy) may cause a mild or severe form of the serotonin syndrome. The syndrome intensity is not just influenced by drug doses but also by environmental factors. OBJECTIVES: Warm environmental temperatures and physical activity are features of raves. The purpose of this study was to assess how these two factors can potentially intensify the syndrome. METHODS: Rats were administered MDMA at doses of 0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg and examined in the absence or presence of warm temperature and physical activity. The syndrome intensity was estimated by visual scoring for behavioral syndrome and also instrumentally measuring changes in symptoms of the syndrome. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that, in the absence of environmental factors, the MDMA-induced syndrome is mainly mediated through the serotonergic transmission (5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT)-dependent mechanism) and therefore is relatively mild. Warm temperature and physical activity facilitate serotonergic and other neural systems such as glutamatergic and autonomic transmissions, resulting in intensification of the syndrome (non-5HT mechanisms).
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Authors | Rui Tao, Ibrahim M Shokry, John J Callanan, H Daniel Adams, Zhiyuan Ma |
Journal | Psychopharmacology
(Psychopharmacology (Berl))
Vol. 232
Issue 7
Pg. 1245-60
(Apr 2015)
ISSN: 1432-2072 [Electronic] Germany |
PMID | 25300903
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Serotonin Agents
- Serotonin
- N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
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Topics |
- Animals
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Environment
- Hot Temperature
(adverse effects)
- Male
- Maze Learning
(drug effects, physiology)
- Motor Activity
(drug effects, physiology)
- N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
(toxicity)
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Serotonin
(metabolism)
- Serotonin Agents
(toxicity)
- Serotonin Syndrome
(chemically induced, metabolism)
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