The role of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors in MDMA self-administration
Authors:   , Aronsen Dane 
Published: November 2021

<p>Rationale: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a less efficacious reinforcer than other drugs of abuse. However, following repeated self-administration, responding increases for some animals and efficacy becomes comparable to other drugs of abuse. MDMA-stimulated serotonin (5-HT) release was negatively associated with acquisition of MDMA self-administration, and a neurotoxic 5-HT lesion reduced the latency to acquire self-administration. These findings suggest that MDMA-produced 5-HT release is an important component of self-administration. The receptor mechanisms are not, however, well understood, although it has often been suggested that the mechanism involves 5-HT-mediated inhibition of dopamine. Both 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors are well localised to regulate dopamine release, and both have been implicated in modulating the reinforcing effects of many drugs of abuse.   Objectives: The first objective was to establish specific behavioural assays to reflect 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor activation. Then, using the established behavioural assays, the aim was to determine the role of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors in the acquisition of MDMA self-administration. The impact of substantial MDMA self-administration on 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors was also assessed.  Methods: Firstly, dose-effect relationships for the hyperactive response to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT (0 – 3.0 mg/kg) and the hyperactive and adipsic response to the 5-HT1B/1A receptor agonist, RU 24969 (0 – 3.0 mg/kg) were determined. Selectivity of these responses was determined by co-administration of the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, WAY 100635, or the 5-HT1B/1D receptor antagonist, GR 127935. Secondly, a pretreatment regimen of the RU 24969 (2 × 3.0 mg/kg/day, 3 days), which had been suggested to down-regulate 5-HT1B/1A receptors, was administered prior to self-administration testing. The effect of this manipulation on both the acquisition of MDMA self-administration, and the behavioural responses to 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor activation, was measured. A further study measured behavioural responses to 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B receptor agonists prior to self-administration, to determine whether the variability in these responses would predict the variability in the latency to acquisition of MDMA self-administration. Lastly, the effect of substantial MDMA self-administration (350 mg/kg) on dose-response curves for the behavioural effects of 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B receptor activation was assessed.   Results: The hyperactive response to the 5-HT1B/1A receptor agonist, RU 24969, was blocked by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, WAY 100635, but not the 5-HT1B receptor antagonist, GR127935. Similarly, the hyperactive response to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, was dose-dependently blocked by WAY 100635. GR 127935, but not WAY 100635, blocked the adipsic response to RU 24969. Repeated administration of RU 24969 produced rightward shifts in the dose-response curves for 8-OH-DPAT-produced hyperactivity and RU 24969-produced adipsia, and also greatly facilitated the acquisition of MDMA self-administration. However, there was no correlation between latency to acquire MDMA self-administration and the hyperactive response to 8-OH-DPAT or the adipsic response to RU 24969, and MDMA self-administration failed to alter these behavioural response to activation of 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B receptors.   Conclusions: The hyperactive response to 8-OH-DPAT and the adipsic response to RU 24969 reflect activation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors, respectively. The variability in acquisition of MDMA self-administration was reduced by a treatment that also down-regulated 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors, however there was no further indication that these receptors play a critical role in the self-administration of MDMA. Instead, it seems likely that other 5-HT receptors have a greater impact on MDMA self-administration.</p>