Arginine vasopressin release in response to the administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("ecstasy"'): is metabolism a contributory factor?

M Forsling; J K Fallon; A T Kicman; A J Hutt; D A Cowan; J A Henry

doi:10.1211/0022357011777855

Arginine vasopressin release in response to the administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ("ecstasy"'): is metabolism a contributory factor?

M Forsling, J K Fallon, A T Kicman, A J Hutt, D A Cowan, J A Henry

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Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to examine the effect of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) administration on arginine vasopressin (AVP) release. ( R,S)-MDMA (40 mg) was administered to eight normally hydrated healthy male volunteers (22-32 years) and blood samples were collected up to 24 h. Plasma was assayed for AVP and cortisol by radioimmunoassays, and for MIDMA and the N-demethylated metabolite, MDA, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sodium concentrations and osmolality were also determined. Plasma AVP increased in all subjects after MDMA administration and a significant negative correlation was observed between concentrations of AVP and both single and total enantiomer MDMA at 1 h (r0.7). Compared with basal values, no significant change was observed for osmolality or cortisol at 1 h after drug administration. In conclusion, plasma AVP concentrations increase after MDMA administration, but the increase is not part of a generalized stress response since cortisol did not increase concurrently. A significant negative correlation between plasma MDMA and AVP was observed soon after administration. The possibility that a pharmacological effect of MDMA is primarily mediated via one or more metabolites, rather than by the parent drug, should be considered.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1357 - 1363
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Volume	53
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357011777855
Publication status	Published - 2001

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10.1211/0022357011777855

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@article{ffc24dfc18bf41458a4c5b3cc566b573,

title = "Arginine vasopressin release in response to the administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ({"}ecstasy{"}'): is metabolism a contributory factor?",

abstract = "The aim of this investigation was to examine the effect of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) administration on arginine vasopressin (AVP) release. ( R,S)-MDMA (40 mg) was administered to eight normally hydrated healthy male volunteers (22-32 years) and blood samples were collected up to 24 h. Plasma was assayed for AVP and cortisol by radioimmunoassays, and for MIDMA and the N-demethylated metabolite, MDA, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sodium concentrations and osmolality were also determined. Plasma AVP increased in all subjects after MDMA administration and a significant negative correlation was observed between concentrations of AVP and both single and total enantiomer MDMA at 1 h (r0.7). Compared with basal values, no significant change was observed for osmolality or cortisol at 1 h after drug administration. In conclusion, plasma AVP concentrations increase after MDMA administration, but the increase is not part of a generalized stress response since cortisol did not increase concurrently. A significant negative correlation between plasma MDMA and AVP was observed soon after administration. The possibility that a pharmacological effect of MDMA is primarily mediated via one or more metabolites, rather than by the parent drug, should be considered.",

author = "M Forsling and Fallon, {J K} and Kicman, {A T} and Hutt, {A J} and Cowan, {D A} and Henry, {J A}",

year = "2001",

doi = "10.1211/0022357011777855",

language = "English",

volume = "53",

pages = "1357 -- 1363",

journal = "Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology",