Acute Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and Methylphenidate on Circulating Steroid Levels in Healthy Subjects
JournalArticle (Originalarbeit in einer wissenschaftlichen Zeitschrift)
ID
2700349
Author(s)
Seibert, Julia; Hysek, Cédric M.; Penno, Carlos A.; Schmid, Yasmin; Kratschmar, Denise V.; Liechti, Matthias E.; Odermatt, Alex
Author(s) at UniBasel
Odermatt, Alex Seibert, Julia Winter, Denise Liechti, Matthias Emanuel
Year
2014
Title
Acute Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and Methylphenidate on Circulating Steroid Levels in Healthy Subjects
Journal
Neuroendocrinology
Volume
100
Number
1
Pages / Article-Number
17-25
Keywords
MDMA, Methylphenidate Steroid, Cortisol Aldosterone, Testosterone
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') and methylphenidate are widely used psychoactive substances. MDMA primarily enhances serotonergic neurotransmission, and methylphenidate increases dopamine but has no serotonergic effects. Both drugs also increase norepinephrine, resulting in sympathomimetic properties. Here we studied the effects of MDMA and methylphenidate on 24-h plasma steroid profiles. Sixteen healthy subjects (eight men, eight women) were treated with single doses of MDMA (125 mg), methylphenidate (60 mg), MDMA + methylphenidate, and placebo on four separate days using a cross-over study design. Cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, 11-dehydrocorticosterone, aldosterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androstendione, and testosterone were repeatedly measured up to 24-h using liquid-chromatography tandem mass-spectroscopy. MDMA significantly increased the plasma concentrations of cortisol, corticosterone, 11-dehydrocorticosterone, and 11-deoxycorticosterone and also tended to moderately increase aldosterone levels compared with placebo. MDMA also increased the sum of cortisol + cortisone and the cortisol/cortisone ratio, consistent with an increase in glucocorticoid production. MDMA did not alter the levels of cortisone, DHEA, DHEAS, androstendione, or testosterone. Methylphenidate did not affect any of the steroid concentrations, and it did not change the effects of MDMA on circulating steroids. In summary, the serotonin releaser MDMA has acute effects on circulating steroids. These effects are not observed after stimulation of the dopamine and norepinephrine systems with methylphenidate. The present findings support the view that serotonin rather than dopamine and norepinephrine mediates the acute pharmacologically-induced stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the absence of other stressors. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Publisher
Karger
ISSN/ISBN
0028-3835 ; 1423-0194
edoc-URL
http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6337448
Full Text on edoc
Available
Digital Object Identifier DOI
10.1159/000364879
PubMed ID
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24903002
ISI-Number
WOS:000344979800003
Document type (ISI)
Article
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