Cardiac oxidative stress determination and myocardial morphology after a single ecstasy (MDMA) administration in a rat model.
Daniela Cerretani, Irene Riezzo, Anna Ida Fiaschi, Fabio Centini, Giorgio Giorgi, Stefano D'Errico, Carmela Fiore, Steven B. Karch, Margherita Neri, Cristoforo Pomara, Emanuela Turillazzi, Vittorio Fineschi
International Journal of Legal Medicine November 2008 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-008-0262-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal experiment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Male albino rats |
| Intervention | MDMA |
| Duration | Assessments at 3, 6, 16 and 24 hours after MDMA administration |
| Measures | total glutathione (GSH), oxidised glutathione (GSSG), ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDAL), histology for contraction band necrosis, macrophage infiltration, calcium deposits |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | A single MDMA dose in male albino rats reduced antioxidant enzyme activity and glutathione and ascorbic acid levels while increasing malondialdehyde, indicating oxidative stress. Heart tissue showed contraction band necrosis at 6 hours, macrophage infiltration by 16 hours, and calcium deposits in cardiomyocytes, which the authors propose may result from reactive oxygen species disrupting calcium regulation and leading to cell death. |
Abstract
Experimental and clinical data indicate that 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) abuse can produce significant cardiovascular toxicity. A mechanism may be a direct toxic effect of redox active metabolites of MDMA. To evaluate the effect of a single MDMA dose on cellular antioxidant defence system and to investigate the morphology in male albino rats, total glutathione (GSH), oxidised glutathione (GSSG), ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDAL) were studied. The effects were evaluated at 3, 6, 16 and 24 h after MDMA administration. Antioxidant enzymes activity was significantly reduced: GPx (-24%) and SOD (-50%) after 3 h and GR (-19%) after 6 h from treatment. AA levels decrease (-37%) after 3 h and (-30%) after 6 h; MDAL level increased (+119%) after 3 h; GSH levels decreased after 3 (31.3%) and 6 h (37.9%) from MDMA treatment. GSSG content was not affected by ecstasy administration. Myocardial contraction band necrosis (CBN) was already visible in rats killed at 6 h. After 16 h, macrophagic monocytes around the necrotic myocardial cells were observed, and within 24 h, this infiltrate became more widespread with an early removal of the necrotic material. Calcium deposits were observed within ventricular cardiomyocytes with intact nuclei and sarcomeres. Single administration of MDMA can significantly alter the cellular antioxidant defence system and produce oxidative stress which may result in lipid peroxidation and disruption of Ca(2 +) homeostasis. The depression in Ca(2+) regulatory mechanism by reactive oxygen species ultimately results in intracellular Ca(2 +) overload, CBN and cell death.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on MDMA, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Mechanisms of MDMA (Ecstasy)-Induced Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Organ Damage Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology June 27, 2010
- Enzymatic–nonenzymatic cellular antioxidant defense systems response and immunohistochemical detection of MDMA, VMAT2, HSP70, and apoptosis as biomarkers for MDMA (Ecstasy) neurotoxicity Journal of Neuroscience Research October 1, 2009
- Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine): cardiovascular effects and mechanisms. European Journal of Pharmacology May 7, 2021
- Increased iNOS and Nitrosative Stress in Dopaminergic Neurons of MDMA-Exposed Rats International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 12, 2019
- Protective effects of vitamin E and quercetin against MDMA-induced cardiac and hematological dysfunction in male wistar rats. Pflügers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology April 23, 2026
and 4 more in the library
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- Metabolism Is Required for the Expression of Ecstasy-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Vitro Chemical Research in Toxicology April 27, 2004
- Effects of MDMA, MDA and MDEA on blood pressure, heart rate, locomotor activity and body temperature in the rat involveα‐adrenoceptors British Journal of Pharmacology February 20, 2006
and 2 more in the library