AN APPRAISAL OF THE PHARMACOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF A SINGLE ORAL-ADMINISTRATION OF 3,4-METHYLENEDIOXYMETHAMPHETAMINE (MDMA) IN THE RAT

This study examined some acute pharmacological and toxicological effec ts of 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ''Ecstasy'') over a ran ge of doses (20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg orally) in adult female rat s. Deaths were observed from the 40 mg/kg MDMA group onwards. Reductio ns in body weight change, food and water intake were found in the 80 m g/kg group, whilst food intake alone was reduced in the 20 and 40 mg/k g groups. Significant hyperthermic responses were found over the first 8 hr following MDMA administration which were dose-related. A signifi cant hyperactivity of approximately 9 hr duration was observed in the 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg groups, whereas there was evidence of a serotoni n syndrome in the higher dosage groups. Thus, acute oral administratio n of MDMA results in a variety of measurable responses. The cause of d eath in this study is probably a combination of serotonin syndrome and hyperthermia.