The effect of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine(MDMA, 'ecstasy')and its metabolites on neurohypothysial hormone release from the isolated rat hypothealamus

摘要

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine(MDMA, 'ecstasy'), widely used as a recreation drug, can produce hyponataemia. The possibility that this could result from stimulation of vasopressin by MDMA or one of its metabolites has been investigated in vitro. Release of both oxytocin and vasopressin from isolated hypothalami obtained from male Wistar Rats was determined under basal conditions and following potassium(40 mM)stimulation. The Results were compared with those obtained for basal and stimulated release in the presence of MDMA or metabolites in the dose range 1μM to 100 pM(n = 5-8)using Student's t-test with Dunnett's correction for multiple comparisons.