Ecstasy during loud noise exposure induces dramatic ultrastructural changes in the heart.
Marco Gesi, Paola Soldani, Paola Lenzi, Michela Ferrucci, Alberto Giusiani, Francesco Fornai, Antonio Paparelli
Pharmacology & Toxicology July 2002 DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0773.2002.910105.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Animals (species not stated in the abstract) |
| Interventions | MDMA loud noise exposure |
| Measures | light microscopy, electron microscopy (ultrastructural examination of mitochondria) |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | A binge pattern of MDMA administration produced no heart muscle lesions detectable by light microscopy, but did produce mitochondrial alterations visible at the ultrastructural level. The number of altered mitochondria was markedly higher when MDMA was administered during loud noise exposure, suggesting that loud noise may enhance MDMA's cardiac effects. |
Abstract
The acute toxicity induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine appears as rabdomyolysis involving the myocardium (myocytolysis) and it is often suspected to be responsible for sudden death. In line with this, cardiac symptoms such as tachycardia, hypertension, and arrhythmia are present in persons abusing ecstasy. In most cases, ecstasy is abused in loud noise, which in itself might affect the myocardium. To our knowledge no study has investigated the concomitant exposure to ecstasy and loud noise in order to evaluate the role of the loud noise in modulating MDMA toxicity. In the present study, we analyzed whether cardiac effects following a typical "binging" pattern of MDMA administration are enhanced by concomitant exposure to loud noise. Our findings did not show any myocardial lesion detectable under light microscopy. In contrast, alterations were visible at the ultrastructural level as mitochondrial changes. In particular, we found a marked enhancement in the number of altered mitochondria when MDMA was administered during exposure to loud noise.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- A review on the mitochondrial toxicity of “ecstasy” (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) Current Research in Toxicology May 27, 2022
- Of mice and men on MDMA: a translational comparison of the neuropsychobiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy'). Brain Research November 14, 2019
- MDMA (ecstasy) enhances loud noise-induced morphofunctional alterations in heart and adrenal gland. Microscopy research and technique September 2011
- Loud noise enhances nigrostriatal dopamine toxicity induced by MDMA in mice. Microscopy research and technique July 1, 2004
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