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Development, maintenance and temporal pattern of self-administration maintained by ecstasy (MDMA) in rats

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Abstract

Rationale

±3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; "ecstasy") use is increasing around the globe but there is a paucity of studies examining the abuse liability of this drug.

Objectives

The ability of drugs to reinforce operant responding in laboratory animals is a valid and reliable predictor of abuse potential. MDMA is self-administered by humans, but there have been few reports of reliable self-administration by drug-naive laboratory animals. The present study sought to examine the acquisition and maintenance of MDMA self-administration by laboratory rats. The influence of prior training with cocaine self-administration on the acquisition of MDMA self-administration was also examined.

Methods

MDMA self-administration (0.25–2.0 mg/kg per infusion) was examined in rats that were first trained to self-administer cocaine as well as by those that were drug-naive. The dose-dependency of MDMA self-administration and the temporal pattern of responding maintained by various doses of MDMA were examined. In some rats, self-administration of MDMA during a 24-h session was also examined.

Results

MDMA was self-administered by laboratory rats that were experienced with self-administration of cocaine as well as by rats that were initially drug naive. For drug naive rats, the acquisition of MDMA self-administration (1.0 mg/kg per infusion) developed gradually during daily test sessions. The latency to acquisition of self-administration was shorter in cocaine-trained rats. Self-administration was dose-dependent, extinguished when saline was substituted for MDMA and, was reinstated when MDMA was reintroduced. During a 24-h self-administration session, a high rate of responding was produced during the first hour of the test session followed by a steady and lower rate of two to four responses per hour during subsequent hours of the test.

Conclusions

These results suggest that prior experience with cocaine self-administration facilitates the acquisition of MDMA self-administration. The results also suggest that MDMA has abuse liability and that increased use of the drug should raise concern of a growing and widespread potential for chronic abuse.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by research grants from Lottery Health, New Zealand, The Neurological Foundation of New Zealand and the University Research Fund, Victoria University of Wellington.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand

    Susan Schenk, David Gittings, Malcolm Johnstone & Evangeline Daniela

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  1. Susan Schenk
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  2. David Gittings
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  4. Evangeline Daniela
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Correspondence to Susan Schenk.

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Schenk, S., Gittings, D., Johnstone, M. et al. Development, maintenance and temporal pattern of self-administration maintained by ecstasy (MDMA) in rats. Psychopharmacology 169, 21–27 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1407-0

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