An Appraisal of the Pharmacological and Toxicological Effects of a Single Oral Administration of 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the Rat

Acute oral administration of MDMA (Ecstasy) to adult female rats produced dose-related effects including hyperthermia, reduced food and water intake, and hyperactivity. Deaths occurred from 40 mg/kg upward. Lower doses (20 and 40 mg/kg) caused prolonged hyperactivity lasting about 9 hours, while higher doses led to serotonin syndrome. The likely cause of death was a combination of serotonin syndrome and hyperthermia.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract: This study examined some acute pharmacological and toxicological effects of 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) over a range of doses (20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg orally) in adult female rats. Deaths were observed from the 40 mg/kg MDMA group onwards. Reductions in body weight change, food and water intake were found in the 80 mg/kg group, whilst food intake alone was reduced in the 20 and 40 mg/kg groups. Significant hyperthermic responses were found over the first 8 hr following MDMA administration which were dose‐related. A significant hyperactivity of approximately 9 hr duration was observed in the 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg groups, whereas there was evidence of a serotonin syndrome in the higher dosage groups. Thus, acute oral administration of MDMA results in a variety of measurable responses. The cause of death in this study is probably a combination of serotonin syndrome and hyperthermia.