Oxytocin receptor gene variation predicts subjective responses to MDMA

Social Neuroscience
Anya K BershadHarriet de Wit

Abstract

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") enhances desire to socialize and feelings of empathy, which are thought to be related to increased oxytocin levels. Thus, variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) may influence responses to the drug. Here, we examined the influence of a single OXTR nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on responses to MDMA in humans. Based on findings that carriers of the A allele at rs53576 exhibit reduced sensitivity to oxytocin-induced social behavior, we hypothesized that these individuals would show reduced subjective responses to MDMA, including sociability. In this three-session, double blind, within-subjects study, healthy volunteers with past MDMA experience (N = 68) received a MDMA (0, 0.75 mg/kg, and 1.5 mg/kg) and provided self-report ratings of sociability, anxiety, and drug effects. These responses were examined in relation to rs53576. MDMA (1.5 mg/kg) did not increase sociability in individuals with the A/A genotype as it did in G allele carriers. The genotypic groups did not differ in responses at the lower MDMA dose, or in cardiovascular or other subjective responses. These findings are consistent with the idea that MDMA-induced sociability is mediated by oxytocin, and that vari...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 27, 2016·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Anya K BershadHarriet de Wit
Nov 21, 2017·Psychopharmacology·Allison A FeducciaMichael C Mithoefer
Oct 12, 2018·Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology·Susan Schenk, David Newcombe
Sep 3, 2019·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Sean B DolanMatthew W Johnson
Jul 25, 2017·Psychopharmacology·K P C KuypersJ G Ramaekers
May 3, 2019·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Anya K BershadHarriet de Wit
Jan 6, 2018·Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology·E PapaseitM Farré
Nov 12, 2019·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Patrick Vizeli, Matthias E Liechti
Dec 5, 2017·European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·Patrick VizeliMatthias E Liechti
Mar 31, 2021·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Erich StuderusMatthias E Liechti
Dec 28, 2018·ACS Chemical Neuroscience·Patrick VizeliMatthias E Liechti

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
Assay
PCR
genotyping
PCA

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