Differential behavioral outcomes of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-ecstasy) in anxiety-like responses in mice
V. Ferraz-De-Paula, D. Stankevicius, A. Ribeiro, M.l. Pinheiro, E.c. Rodrigues-Costa, J.c. Florio, S.f. Lapachinske, R.l.m. Moreau, J. Palermo-Neto
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research September 4, 2013 DOI: 10.1590/s0100-879x2011000500008 via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAcute 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.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 70 |
| Population | 2-month-old Balb/c male mice (25-35 g) |
| Dose | 0.2, 1.0, 5.0, 8.0, 10, or 20 mg/kg |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Corticosterone Open field Plus maze Hole board Predator odor test |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key finding | Acute MDMA at 10 mg/kg produced an anxiogenic-like effect in mice, evidenced by increased corticosterone and striatal dopamine, despite motor stimulation that impaired some behavioral anxiety measures. |
Abstract
Anxiolytic and anxiogenic-like behavioral outcomes have been reported for methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) in rodents. In the present experiment, we attempted to identify behavioral, hormonal and neurochemical outcomes of MDMA treatment to clarify its effects on anxiety-related responses in 2-month-old Balb/c male mice (25-35 g; N = 7-10 mice/group). The behavioral tests used were open field, elevated plus maze, hole board, and defensive behavior against predator odor. Moreover, we also determined striatal dopamine and dopamine turnover, and serum corticosterone levels. MDMA was injected ip at 0.2, 1.0, 5.0, 8.0, 10, or 20 mg/kg. MDMA at 10 mg/kg induced the following significant (P < 0.05) effects: a) a dose-dependent increase in the distance traveled and in the time spent moving in the open field; b) decreased exploratory activity in the hole board as measured by number of head dips and time spent in head dipping; c) increased number of open arm entries and increased time spent in open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze; d) increased time spent away from an aversive stimulus and decreased number of risk assessments in an aversive odor chamber; e) increased serum corticosterone levels, and f) increased striatal dopamine level and turnover. Taken together, these data suggest an anxiogenic-like effect of acute MDMA treatment, despite the fact that behavioral anxiety expression was impaired in some of the behavioral tests used as a consequence of the motor stimulating effects of MDMA.