Profile of MDMA Self-Administration from a Large Cohort of Rats: MDMA Develops a Profile of Dependence with Extended Testing
Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research – January 01, 2012
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Nearly half of a large cohort of 128 rats (49%) self-administered MDMA at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg/infusion within 25 days, indicating its strong appeal as a reinforcer. On average, rats took 15.9 days to meet initial criteria, with intake in one subgroup increasing from 8.5 to 15.25 mg/kg/day over an additional 14 days. This suggests that MDMA's reinforcing properties are robust and dose-dependent, requiring more test sessions compared to other substances studied in pharmacology and psychology.
Abstract
The present study provides a profile of acqui- sition and maintenance of self-administration of +/-3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) obtained from a large cohort of rats tested during a 2 year period. Of the 128 rats, 49% self-administered 1.0 mg/kg/infusion MDMA to an initial criterion within a 25 day cut-off period. The number of test sessions required to meet this initial criterion was normally distributed around an average of 15.9 days and responding increased in a compensatory manner when the dose was decreased. In a subgroup of rats that self-administered MDMA for an additional 14 days intake increased from 8.5 to 15.25 mg/kg/day. Thus, under these conditions, MDMA is a reliable reinforcer for about half of a large sample of rats, responding is dose-dependent and acquisition of self-administration for these sensitive rats requires more test sessions than is typically used for studies examining self-administration of other drugs of abuse.