The effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (
MDMA or 'ecstacy') and two structurally related compounds, N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-ethanamine (
MDM1EA) and N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butanamine (
HMDMA) were examined in two preparations: (i) a
drug discrimination procedure in
MDMA-trained rats and (ii) the chicken embryo, for determination of the direct effects of these compounds on the developing organism. The highest doses of
MDM1EA and
HMDMA partially substituted for
MDMA, whereas higher (30-60 mg/kg) doses of
HMDMA evoked
clonic seizures in a separate group of rats. In chicken embryos
MDMA had no effect on body, brain or liver weight, while the highest dose of
MDM1EA decreased
body weight and the 2 lowest doses of
HMDMA increased
body weight. All doses of
HMDMA decreased liver weight (expressed as %
body weight) when compared with contemporaneous water-treated controls. Taken together, the results of these experiments suggest that structurally related compounds share some stimulus properties with
MDMA and may therefore share abuse liability. Furthermore, both
MDMA-related compounds produced adverse effects on the developing organism, whereas
MDMA did not.