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Vasopressin and oxytocin as neurohormonal mediators of MDMA (ecstasy) sociosexual behavioural effects

2006; Elsevier BV; Volume: 67; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.mehy.2006.05.021

1532-2777

Enzo Emanuele, Mariarosa Arra, Sara Pesenti,

Psychedelics and Drug Studies

Dear Editor,Althoughitiswellestablishedthattheillicitdrug3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA,‘‘ecstasy’’) can induce both feelings of emotionalcloseness and sexual arousal in humans [1], theneurobiologicalbasesforthisphenomenonremainto be entirely elucidated. Of interest, a very re-cent study in humans has reported that MDMAconsumption can elicit a significant release ofthe neurohypophyseal hormones vasopressin(AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) in the bloodstream [2].These authors, however, interpreted the in-creasedlevelsoftheseneurohormonesexclusivelyas a possible explanation for the alterations ofplasma and urine osmolality that are often foundin MDMA consumers [2].We believe, on the other hand, that inductionof AVP and OXT release following MDMA assump-tion could also account for several sociosexualbehavioural effects of this widely abused drug.Accordingly, AVP and OXT have been shown toplay a crucial role in a number of complex emo-tional and social behaviours in human beings,including attachment [3] and trust [4]. With re-gard to sexual function, OXT levels are knownto increase during sexual arousal in both menand women [5], while AVP has been suggestedto be involved in consummatory and reward as-pects of sexual behaviour [6]. Notably, AVP hasbeen proposed to be an important player in theneurobiology of libido, a basic human mentalstate involved in the beginning of sexual desire[6].While current research has clearly indicatedthat the neurotoxic effects of MDMA may involveindividual actions of this psychoactive drug onserotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline systems[7], we propose that the sense of empathy,emotional intimacy and sexual arousal that ec-stasy may enhance could be related to the re-lease of ‘‘prosocial’’ molecules such as AVPand OXT into the systemic circulation. We spec-ulate that confirming our present hypothesis inthe next future will be of interest to shed morelight into the molecular mechanisms underlyingthe MDMA-mediated behavioural effects inhumans.