Repeated administration of the 5-HT₁B/₁A agonist, RU 24969, facilitates the acquisition of MDMA self-administration: role of 5-HT₁A and 5-HT₁B receptor mechanisms.

Rationale: 3,4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) preferentially stimulates the release of serotonin (5-HT) that subsequently produces behavioral responses by activation of post-synaptic receptor mechanisms. The 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors are both well localized to regulate dopamine (DA) release, and have been implicated in modulating the reinforcing effects of many drugs of abuse, but a role in acquisition of self-administration has not been determined.

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the effect of pharmacological manipulation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor mechanisms on the acquisition of MDMA self-administration.

Methods: The 5-HT1B/1A receptor agonist, RU 24969 (0.0 or 3.0 mg/kg, bid), was administered for 3 days in order to down-regulate both 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors. Following the pretreatment phase, latency to acquisition of MDMA self-administration was measured.

Results: Repeated administration of RU 24969 significantly decreased the latency to acquisition and increased the proportion of animals that acquired MDMA self-administration. Dose-effect curves for the 5-HT1A-mediated hyperactivity produced by the 5-HT1A agonist, 8-OH-DPAT, and the 5-HT1B-mediated adipsic response produced by RU 24969 were shifted rightward, suggesting a desensitization of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor mechanisms.

Conclusions: These data suggest that the initial reinforcing effects of MDMA are modulated by 5-HT1A and/or 5-HT1B receptor mechanisms. The potential impact of these changes on the DAergic response relevant to self-administration and a possible role in conditioned reinforcement pertaining to acquisition of self-administration are discussed.