PMID- 19893336
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20100129
LR  - 20151119
IS  - 1423-0224 (Electronic)
IS  - 0302-282X (Linking)
VI  - 60
IP  - 3-4
DP  - 2009
TI  - Weekly gamma-hydroxybutyrate exposure sensitizes locomotor hyperactivity to 
      low-dose 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in rats.
PG  - 195-203
LID - 10.1159/000253555 [doi]
AB  - Users of the popular party drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) 
      sometimes report combining MDMA with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) to enhance the 
      pleasurable effects of both drugs. However, very few studies have examined the 
      influences of this drug combination. The present study investigated the 
      development of locomotor sensitization in laboratory rats given 7 once-weekly 
      exposures to either MDMA, GHB or their combination (MDMA/GHB). The drugs were 
      administered at a high ambient temperature (28 degrees C) to mimic nightclub 
      conditions. MDMA (5 mg/kg), given once weekly, produced a progressively greater 
      locomotor and hyperthermic response over time. In contrast, GHB (500 mg/kg) 
      administered weekly produced consistent low levels of locomotor activity and few 
      changes in body temperature. Rats receiving the mixture of MDMA (5 mg/kg) and GHB 
      (500 mg/kg) showed asymptotic levels of sensitized locomotor activity similar to 
      those seen in rats given MDMA alone, but the development of locomotor 
      sensitization was delayed by coadministered GHB. GHB also delayed the development 
      of MDMA-induced hyperthermia. After a washout period of 5 weeks, rats pre-exposed 
      to MDMA, GHB and MDMA/GHB showed no hyperactivity when tested drug-free in the 
      context in which they had previously received drugs, but displayed a sensitized 
      locomotor response to a low challenge dose of MDMA (2.5 mg/kg). The response to a 
      low dose of methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) did not differ among groups. 
      Neurochemical analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography revealed few 
      lasting changes in serotonin, dopamine or their metabolites in the striatum or 
      prefrontal cortex of MDMA- or GHB-pre-exposed rats. These results indicate that 
      GHB modulates the locomotor and hyperthermic response to acute MDMA and that 
      pre-exposure to GHB can sensitize the locomotor response to low doses of MDMA.
CI  - Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.
FAU - van Nieuwenhuijzen, P S
AU  - van Nieuwenhuijzen PS
AD  - School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, N.S.W. 
      2006, Australia.
FAU - Li, K M
AU  - Li KM
FAU - Hunt, G E
AU  - Hunt GE
FAU - McGregor, I S
AU  - McGregor IS
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
DEP - 20091105
PL  - Switzerland
TA  - Neuropsychobiology
JT  - Neuropsychobiology
JID - 7512895
RN  - 0 (Central Nervous System Agents)
RN  - 0 (Hallucinogens)
RN  - 333DO1RDJY (Serotonin)
RN  - 7G33012534 (Sodium Oxybate)
RN  - KE1SEN21RM (N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine)
RN  - VTD58H1Z2X (Dopamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Body Temperature
MH  - Central Nervous System Agents/administration & dosage/*pharmacology
MH  - Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
MH  - Corpus Striatum/chemistry/drug effects
MH  - Dopamine/analysis
MH  - Drug Interactions
MH  - Hallucinogens/administration & dosage/*pharmacology
MH  - Locomotion/*drug effects
MH  - Male
MH  - N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/administration & dosage/*pharmacology
MH  - Prefrontal Cortex/chemistry/drug effects
MH  - Rats
MH  - Rats, Wistar
MH  - Serotonin/analysis
MH  - Sodium Oxybate/administration & dosage/*pharmacology
MH  - Temperature
EDAT- 2009/11/07 06:00
MHDA- 2010/01/30 06:00
CRDT- 2009/11/07 06:00
PHST- 2009/11/07 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2009/11/07 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2010/01/30 06:00 [medline]
AID - 000253555 [pii]
AID - 10.1159/000253555 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Neuropsychobiology. 2009;60(3-4):195-203. doi: 10.1159/000253555. Epub 2009 Nov 
      5.