Increased anxiety and impaired memory in rats 3 months after administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“Ecstasy”)

摘要: Abstract Male Wistar rats were administered either (a) a high dose regime of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (4×5 mg/kg, i.p. over 4 h on each 2 consecutive days), (b) moderate MDMA (1×5 mg/kg (c) d -amphetamine (4×1 or (d) vehicle injections. The and the amphetamine treatment both produced acute hyperactivity hyperthermia. Twelve weeks later, all tested in drug-free state battery anxiety tests (elevated plus maze, emergence social interaction tests). A further later they novel object recognition memory task. Rats previously given neurotoxic showed greater anxiety-like behaviour three relative to controls -amphetamine-treated rats. also increased tests, although lesser extent than group. In task, impaired other groups when at 15-min delay but not 60-min delay. exposed did differ from saline tests. These data suggest that heavy exposure 48 may lead impairment 3 months possibly through effect brain serotonin systems.