3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Increases Affiliative Behaviors in Squirrel Monkeys in a Serotonin 2A Receptor-Dependent Manner
Neuropsychopharmacology September 1, 2017 Elizabeth G Pitts, Adelaide R Minerva, Erika B Chandler et al. 20 citations
MDMA and its enantiomers increase affiliative social behaviors and vocalizations in group-housed squirrel monkeys, while methamphetamine has only modest effects. Pretreatment with a 5-HT_2A receptor antagonist or a 5-HT_2C receptor agonist reduces MDMA-induced social behaviors, whereas a 5-HT_1A receptor antagonist does not affect affiliative vocalizations and even increases social contact. These results indicate that the prosocial effects of MDMA depend on 5-HT_2A, but not 5-HT_1A, receptors, aligning with findings in humans and rodents. Understanding these neurochemical mechanisms may aid in developing therapeutics that retain MDMA's social benefits with fewer drawbacks.