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 effects of 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) over a range of doses (20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg kg orally) in adult female rats. Deaths were observed from the 40 mg kg MDMA group onwards. Reductions in body weight change, food and water intake were found in the 80 mg kg group, whilst food intake alone was reduced in the 20 and 40 mg kg groups. Significant hyperthermic responses were found over the first 8 hr following MDMA administration which were dose-related. A significant hyperactivity of approximately 9 hr duration was observed in the 20 mg kg and 40 mg kg groups, whereas there was evidence of a serotonin syndrome in the higher dosage groups. Thus, acute oral administration of MDMA results in a variety of measurable responses. The cause of death in this study is probably a combination of serotonin syndrome and hyperthermia.