The acute effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine on dopamine release in the awake-behaving rat.

The acute effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine on dopamine release in the awake-behaving rat.

Yamamoto B K; Spanos L J

European journal of pharmacology

1988

1988-03

The effects of the recently classified Schedule I amphetamine analog, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [+/-)-MDMA) on caudate and nucleus accumbens dopamine release and metabolism were studied by in vivo voltammetry and HPLC with electrochemical detection. Monitored over a 3 h period, the magnitude of increase in dopamine release and the onset of effect were dose-dependent and similar for both brain areas following the 2.5 and 5 mg/kg dose of the drug. However, responses were different for these brain regions using 10 mg/kg of MDMA; the magnitude of increase was greater and the onset of effect more immediate in caudate. Analysis of dopamine and DOPAC tissue content in both caudate and nucleus accumbens verified the voltammetry results. This study provides the first evidence that MDMA induces dopamine release in vivo and that this effect is region, time- and dose-dependent.

Male; Animals; Rats; Dopamine/*metabolism; Consciousness; Amphetamines/*pharmacology; Brain/drug effects/metabolism; Caudate Nucleus/drug effects/metabolism; Nucleus Accumbens/drug effects/metabolism; Inbred Strains; 3; 4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid/metabolism; N-Methyl-3; 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; 4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/analogs & derivatives/*pharmacology

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