Differential behavioral outcomes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-ecstasy) in anxiety-like responses in mice
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research September 4, 2013 V. Ferraz-De-Paula, D. Stankevicius, A. Ribeiro et al. 10 citations
Acute MDMA (ecstasy) treatment in adult male mice produced an anxiogenic-like effect, despite impairing behavioral anxiety expression in some tests due to motor stimulation. At 10 mg/kg, MDMA increased distance traveled and time spent moving in the open field, but decreased exploratory head dipping in the hole board. It increased open arm entries and time spent in open arms of the elevated plus maze, and increased time away from an aversive predator odor with fewer risk assessments. MDMA also raised serum corticosterone levels and increased striatal dopamine levels and turnover. These findings suggest MDMA induces anxiety-related hormonal and neurochemical changes, while its motor-stimulating properties complicate behavioral anxiety measures.