Effect of 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") on dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens shell and core.
by
Cadoni C, Solinas M, Pisanu A, Zernig G,
Acquas E, Di Chiara G.
CNR Istitute of Neuroscience,
Section of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy;
Department of Toxicology and Centre of
Excellence for Neurobiology of Addiction,
University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 72,
09126 Cagliari, Italy
Brain Res. 2005 Aug 9

ABSTRACT

. It is known that most of drugs abused by humans preferentially stimulate dopamine transmission in the shell subdivision of the nucleus accumbens as compared to the core. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether this applies also to intravenous 3,4-methylendioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") administered at doses that sustain self-administration behavior in rats. The effect of 0.32, 0.64, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.2 mg/kg i.v. of MDMA on dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens shell and core was studied in freely moving rats by means of dual probe microdialysis. MDMA dose-dependently stimulated dopamine transmission both in the shell and in the core but the increase in the shell was more pronounced compared to the core at doses of 0.64, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg. The increase of dialysate dopamine obtained after 0.32 mg/kg and after 3.2 mg/kg was not significantly different in the shell compared to the core of nucleus accumbens. This study extends to MDMA the property of other drugs of abuse to increase preferentially nucleus accumbens shell dopamine.

MDMA and dopamine
Dopaminergic damage
MDMA and serotonin synthesis
MDMA, serotonin and dopamine
Potentiation of dopamine release
Haloperidol pretreatment: effects
Ecstasy and dopamine neurons: risks?
Activation of striatal dopamine receptors

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family