MDMA transiently alters biogenic amines and metabolites in mouse brain and heart.

(+-)-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) was administered to male CF-1 mice which were sacrificed 3, 6, or 24 hours posttreatment for analysis of brain and cardiac biogenic amines and metabolites. In contrast to reported effects of MDMA in the rat, the highest dose of MDMA transiently elevated mouse brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 3 hours following drug treatment. Levels of dopamine were not significantly affected. 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were significantly lowered by MDMA at the two early time points. The highest dose of MDMA produced a transient depletion of norepinephrine in mouse brain and heart tissue. Only the effects of MDMA on cardiac norepinephrine were prevented by pretreatment of animals with desipramine. A regimen consisting of four daily doses of 40 mg/kg MDMA only produced significant declines in 5-HIAA, dopamine and homovanillic acid levels one week following the last dose. These data confirm previous reports that mice are resistant to the neurotoxic effects of MDMA suggesting that a species variation in response to MDMA exists.