Ecstasy-induced toxicity in rat liver.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of single and repeated administration of 3,4-methylenedioxyme-thamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") on rat liver.


METHODS
Animals were given an acute (20 mg/kg) and repeated (20 mg/kg, b.i.d., for 4 consecutive days) intraperitoneal dose of MDMA, and at various times after administration the hepatic and serum determinations were made.


RESULTS
The effect of acute MDMA administration included increased triglyceride and cholesterol levels and an increase in all enzyme activities 6 h post administration. The toxic effect of MDMA was also observed in other hepatic processes. Glycogen content showed a marked decrease, which was accompanied by a decrease in serum glucose levels. No significant changes in lipid peroxidation and hepatic GSH content were observed. In contrast, multiple MDMA administration produced some evidence of oxidative stress, namely, increased MDA content and decreased GSH content, a small decrease in liver glycogen at 3 h recovering 6 h post dose, no effect on blood glucose and increased AST and ALP activities but no effects on ALT activity. Seven days after the last MDMA injection a tendency towards recovery was shown.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that the liver toxicity caused by MDMA administration involves several mechanisms.
Beitia
G
G
Department of Pharmacology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Cobreros
A
A
Sainz
L
L
Cenarruzabeitia
E
E
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D006003:Glycogen; D002784:Cholesterol; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005978:Glutathione; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine