3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and naloxone in rat rotational behaviour and open field.

It has recently been shown that 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has an anti-parkinsonian effect in rodent models of Parkinson's disease. The mechanism of this anti-parkinsonian action is unknown. Opioids have been suggested to play a role in MDMA-induced behaviour.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine counteracts akinesia enantioselectively in rat rotational behavior and catalepsy.

We have shown recently that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has symptomatic antiparkinsonian activity in rodent models of Parkinson's disease. In search of its mechanism of action, we further investigated the enantiomers of MDMA in the rotational behavioral model and catalepsy test. Catalepsy testing was done in drug-naive unlesioned animals.