The effect of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ?ecstasy?) and its metabolites on neurohypophysial hormone release from the isolated rat hypothalamus
British Journal of Pharmacology February 1, 2002 Mary L. Forsling, John K. Fallon, Darshna Shah et al. 77 citations
MDMA and its metabolites can stimulate release of the hormones vasopressin and oxytocin from rat hypothalamic tissue in the laboratory. The metabolite HMMA (4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine) was the most potent, increasing basal vasopressin release more than twofold and oxytocin release by about 60% at a concentration of 10 nM. MDMA itself produced smaller increases. The effect on vasopressin release was consistently greater than on oxytocin. These findings suggest that MDMA-induced hyponatraemia (low blood sodium) may result from excessive vasopressin secretion triggered by the drug or its breakdown products.