MDMA "ecstasy" alters hyperactive and perseverative behaviors in dopamine transporter knockout mice.
Journal Article
RATIONALE: Mice lacking the gene for the dopamine transporter (DAT) show a unique behavioral phenotype characterized by locomotor hyperactivity and repetitive circling in a novel environment. The hyperactivity of DAT (-/-) mice can be attenuated by psychostimulants and by serotonin uptake inhibitors, suggesting an important role for serotonin in the attenuation of locomotor hyperactivity in these mice. OBJECTIVES: These studies characterized the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), a serotonin releaser, on the amount and patterns of locomotor activity in DAT (+/+) and (-/-) mice. We compared the locomotor patterns produced by MDMA to those observed in DAT (-/-) mice, and examined whether MDMA altered the hyperactivity and perseverative locomotor patterns in DAT (-/-) mice. METHODS: The effects of MDMA (10, 30 mg/kg) on locomotor activity in DAT (+/+) mice were measured for 90 min in a video tracker system to determine the optimal dose for subsequent studies in DAT (+/+) and (-/-) mice. The effects of 20 mg/kg MDMA on patterns of locomotor activity in DAT (+/+) and (-/-) mice were measured for 90 min. RESULTS: In DAT (+/+) mice, MDMA increased locomotor activity and induced repetitive straight movement patterns. In DAT (-/-) mice, however, MDMA (20 mg/kg) attenuated the characteristic locomotor hyperactivity seen in these mice. In contrast, MDMA potentiated the thigmotaxis and decreased entropy observed in the DAT (-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of MDMA observed here demonstrate that the different aspects of the abnormal locomotor behavior exhibited by DAT (-/-) mice can be independently manipulated by pharmacological treatments.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Powell, SB; Lehmann-Masten, VD; Paulus, MP; Gainetdinov, RR; Caron, MG; Geyer, MA
Published Date
- May 2004
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 173 / 3-4
Start / End Page
- 310 - 317
PubMed ID
- 14747902
Pubmed Central ID
- 14747902
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0033-3158
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1007/s00213-003-1765-7
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- Germany