Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and related amphetamines on autonomic and behavioral thermoregulation

The effect of long-term repeated exposure to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on cardiovascular and thermoregulatory changes

“…When rats were given MDMA and left at an elevated T A , their T C increased by almost 4°C, while at normal room temperature there was no effect. This is consistent with previous studies conducted in our laboratory (Jaehne et al 2005(Jaehne et al , 2007. It is also consistent with several other studies showing that MDMA leads to hyperthermia at high T A s while having little effect on T C at "normal" room temperature (Dafters 1995;Green et al 2004;Malberg and Seiden 1998).…”

“…Vehicle controls were not used as the primary comparisons of the current study were between rats treated with MDMA for 1 or 6 weeks. Previous studies in this have shown there are substantial and significant differences between MDMA and vehicle treatment (Jaehne et al 2005(Jaehne et al , 2007.…”

“…Equipment The apparatus used was the same as we have used previously (Jaehne et al 2005(Jaehne et al , 2007 and based on previous studies (Florez-Duquet et al 2001;Gordon 1987). It consists of an insulated aluminum floor (120 cm) with an actual runway length of 72 cm divided into five zones with dimensions 14.5 by 30 cm.…”

“…Although behavior has been recognized as important in the overall control of core body temperature (Attia 1984;Sessler 1997), its role in stimulant-induced hyperthermia has only recently been studied (Jaehne et al 2005(Jaehne et al , 2007. The first of those studies placed rats in a thermal gradient after their body temperature had been increased or decreased by treatment with MDMA (10 mg/kg), and showed that rats chose appropriate ambient temperatures to bring their core temperature back to normal (Jaehne et al 2005).…”

“…The first of those studies placed rats in a thermal gradient after their body temperature had been increased or decreased by treatment with MDMA (10 mg/kg), and showed that rats chose appropriate ambient temperatures to bring their core temperature back to normal (Jaehne et al 2005). The second was a dose-response study and showed that with increasing doses of MDMA (4-40 μmol/kg), the core temperature of rats increased and the preferred temperature on the thermal gradient decreased (Jaehne et al 2007).…”