Oxytocin and MDMA ('Ecstasy') enhance social reward in rats

Psychopharmacology
Linnet RamosIain S McGregor

Abstract

Oxytocin (OT), vasopressin (AVP) and 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy') all increase social interaction in rats, perhaps by enhancing the rewarding value of social encounters. Here, we used the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm to assess the intrinsic rewarding effects of OT, AVP and MDMA, and whether these effects are enhanced by the presence of a conspecific, or a dynamic, tactile object (a tennis ball). Adult male rats received conditioning sessions in a CPP apparatus twice a day (vehicle at 10 a.m., drug at 3 p.m.). Experiment 1 involved conditioning with OT (0.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)), AVP (0.005 mg/kg, i.p.) or MDMA (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Experiments 2 and 3 involved conditioning with the same treatments but in the presence of a conspecific receiving the same treatment (social-CPP) or in the presence of a tennis ball (object-CPP), respectively. Conditioned place preference was assessed 24 h, 2 weeks and 4 weeks later. OT, AVP and MDMA did not produce a conventional CPP. However, when the conditioning environment also contained a conspecific both OT and MDMA induced a significant CPP lasting for at least 4 weeks. Rats given OT and MDMA also developed a more modest yet significant CPP for the en...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 27, 2015·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Philip Kamilar-Britt, Gillinder Bedi
Jul 21, 2016·Behavioural Brain Research·Sarah K LawsonNancy S Woehrle
Sep 1, 2017·Behavioural Pharmacology·Seico Benner, Hidenori Yamasue
May 3, 2019·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Anya K BershadHarriet de Wit
Jun 14, 2019·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Morgan M Rogers-Carter, John P Christianson
Jul 13, 2018·ACS Chemical Neuroscience·Lee E DunlapDavid E Olson

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