March 10, 2006

Ecstasy causes depression in pigs

Danish scientific experiments where Ecstasy was adminstered to pigs may help to explain depression in humans abusing the drug.

The three-year study conducted at the PET Center at Arhus Hospital in Denmark showed the recreational drug caused depression in laboratory pigs, reported The Copenhagen Post Friday.

The scientists injected pigs with varying doses of Ecstasy to study the effect the drug has on the pigs' brains.

Pigs' brains are similar to human brains.

"We have proven that Ecstasy releases seratonin in the brain, which we know plays a role in depression," said Dr. Aage Kristian Olsen at Arhus Hospital. "Ecstasy users risk depression given its long-term effects on the brain."

The scientists noted that pigs on Ecstasy lost control of their body temperature, an effect also seen in human overdose fatalities, Olsen said.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

Citation: Ecstasy causes depression in pigs (2006, March 10) retrieved 16 April 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2006-03-ecstasy-depression-pigs.html
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