Effects of MDMA on blood glucose levels and brain glucose metabolism

M. L. Soto-Montenegro, J. J. Vaquero, C. Arango, G. Ricaurte, P. García-Barreno, M. Desco

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: This study was designed to assess changes in glucose metabolism in rats administered single or repeated doses of MDMA. Methods: Two different experiments were performed: (1) A single-dose study with four groups receiving 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, saline or heat, and (2) a repeated-dose study with two groups receiving three doses, at intervals of 2 h, of 5 mg/kg or saline. Rats were imaged using a dedicated small-animal PET scanner 1 h after single-dose administration or 7 days after repeated doses. Glucose metabolism was measured in 12 cerebral regions of interest. Rectal temperature and blood glucose were monitored. Results: Peak body temperature was reached 1 h after MDMA administration. Blood glucose levels decreased significantly after MDMA administration. In the single-dose experiment, brain glucose metabolism showed hyperactivation in cerebellum and hypo-activation in the hippocampus, amygdala and auditory cortex. In the repeated-dose experiment, brain glucose metabolism did not show any significant change at day 7. Conclusion: These results are the first to indicate that MDMA has the potential to produce significant hypoglycaemia. In addition, they show that MDMA alters glucose metabolism in components of the motor, limbic and somatosensory systems acutely but not on a long-term basis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)916-925
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Volume34
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2007

Keywords

  • Brain metabolism
  • FDG
  • MDMA
  • PET

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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