Behavioral effects of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) on adult zebrafish
Adam Stewart, Russell Riehl, Keith Wong, Jeremy Green, Jessica Cosgrove, Karoly Vollmer, Evan J. Kyzar, Peter C. Hart, Alexander V. Allain, Jonathan Cachat, Siddharth Gaikwad, Molly Hook, Kate Rhymes, Alan Newman, Eli Utterback, Katie Chang, Allan V. Kalueff
Behavioural Pharmacology April 8, 2011 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0b013e328345f758 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAcute exposure to high doses of MDMA (40-120 mg/l) reduces bottom swimming and immobility in zebrafish and impairs intrasession habituation at doses as low as 10 mg/l, while lower doses (0.25-10 mg/l) show no behavioral effects. MDMA also increases brain c-fos expression. These findings support the use of zebrafish as a model for screening hallucinogenic compounds.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Dose | 0.25-120 mg/l |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Danio Zebrafish Hallucinogen |
| Citations | 66 |
| Key finding | High doses of MDMA reduce bottom swimming and immobility and impair habituation in zebrafish, while lower doses are inactive. |
Abstract
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') is a potent psychedelic drug inducing euphoria and hypersociability in humans, as well as hyperactivity and anxiety in rodents. Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become a widely used species in neurobehavioral research. Here, we explore the effects of a wide range (0.25-120 mg/l) of acute MDMA doses on zebrafish behavior in the novel tank test. Although MDMA was inactive at lower doses (0.25-10 mg/l), higher doses reduced bottom swimming and immobility (40-120 mg/l) and impaired intrasession habituation (10-120 mg/l). MDMA also elevated brain c-fos expression, collectively confirming the usage of zebrafish models for screening of hallucinogenic compounds.