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Fig. 8 MDMA suppresses AKT phosphorylation. Next, we determined whether the AKT or ERK1/2 signalling pathways played a role in the behavioural effects of MDMA. Following the behavioural tests, the fish were euthanised, and protein levels were normalised before utilising the western blotting technique (a). The results indicate that a dose of 0.5 μM of MDMA decreased AKT phosphorylation (b), while neither of the tested doses had an impact on ERK1/2 phosphorylation (c). Data were analysed using a t-test (b: 0.5, 1.0 μM, c: 0.5, 1.0 μM). Mann–Whitney test was used for datasets that failed normality testing or had significantly different variances (b: 2.5 μM, c: 2.5 μM). The confidence limit of *p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant, n = 6–8. COI: compound of interest.