Stimulus effects of N-monoethyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (MDE) and N-hydroxy-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (N-OH MDA) in rats trained to discriminate MDMA from saline

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1989 Aug;33(4):909-12. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(89)90491-7.

Abstract

Tests of stimulus generalization were conducted using rats trained to discriminate 1.5 mg/kg of N-monomethyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane HCl (MDMA) from saline in order to determine if two structurally related analogs (MDE and N-OH MDA) would produce similar stimulus effects. The MDMA-stimulus (MDMA, ED50 value = 0.76 mg/kg) generalized both to MDE (ED50 value = 0.73 mg/kg) and N-OH MDA (ED50 value = 0.47 mg/kg). Administration of (+)amphetamine resulted in partial generalization (maximum of 49% MDMA-appropriate responding) in the MDMA-trained animals. Taken together with our previous studies showing that MDMA substitutes for the phenylisopropylamine stimulant (+)amphetamine, but that neither MDE nor N-OH MDA substitute for (+)amphetamine or for the phenylisopropylamine hallucinogen 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM), the present results [i.e., MDMA-stimulus generalization to MDE, N-OH MDA, but not to (+)amphetamine] suggest that 1) MDMA produces effects other than those that may be considered amphetamine-like, and 2) MDE and N-OH MDA are MDMA-like agents with even less of an amphetamine-like component of action than MDMA itself.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / analogs & derivatives
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Amphetamine / pharmacology
  • Amphetamines / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Discrimination, Psychological*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Generalization, Stimulus / drug effects
  • Generalization, Stimulus / physiology*
  • Male
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains

Substances

  • Amphetamines
  • 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • N-hydroxy-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane
  • Amphetamine
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • 3,4-methylenedioxyethamphetamine