SOME BEHAVIORAL AND NEUROCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF SUBACUTE (+ -)3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE ADMINISTRATION IN RATS/

(+/-)3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; ''Ecstasy''), an increa singly popular recreational drug, is known to damage brain serotonin ( 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) neurons, whilst also having a less pronoun ced effect on the dopaminergic system. Treatment with MDMA results in an increased locomotor activity, elevated basal serum corticosterone c oncentrations, decreased exploratory activity, and changes in body tem perature. The aim of this study was to examine the dose related effect s of subacute administration of MDMA (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg IP twice dai ly for 4 days) on home cage locomotor activity, ''open field'' and ''s tep-down passive avoidance'' behaviours, changes due to an 8-hydroxy-2 -(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) challenge, and on plasma cort icosterone and brain neurotransmitter concentrations. Total locomotor activity counts were significantly increased by both 10 and 20 mg/kg M DMA for the 4 days of drug administration. There were no significant d ifferences seen in the ''open field'' or ''step down passive avoidance '' behaviour, in the 8-OH-DPAT induced hypothermia, or in basal serum corticosterone concentrations. MDMA caused a significant depletion of both 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the frontal corte x and amygdala and a significant elevation of dopamine and noradrenali ne in the hippocampus. Apart from the increase in locomotor activity f ollowing subacute administration, the observed behaviour of the MDMA t reated rats would not appear to reflect the substantial changes in bra in biogenic amine neurotransmitters.