title: Cocaine enhances myocarditis induced by encephalomyocarditis virus in murine model.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate whether cocaine can exacerbate viral myocarditis and increase its incidence. Recent clinical evidence suggests that cocaine abuse increases the incidence of myocarditis. However, it has not been directly demonstrated that cocaine exposure enhances murine myocarditis. BALB/c mice were divided into eight groups: saline control, encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), 10 mg/kg cocaine (Coc-10), 30 mg/kg cocaine (Coc-30), 50 mg/kg cocaine (Coc-50), EMCV+Coc-10, EMCV+Coc-30, EMCV+Coc-50. After inoculation with EMCV, the mice were treated daily with either cocaine or saline for 90 days. Mice were euthanized at different days after EMCV inoculation. Mortality was recorded and myocarditis severity was evaluated. The mortality of the myocarditis mice treated with cocaine increased significantly, from 22% (EMCV) to 25.7% (Coc-10+EMCV), 41.4% (Coc-30+EMCV), and 51.4% (Coc-50+EMCV) (P < 0.05), respectively. The incidence and severity of inflammatory cell infiltration and myocardial lesions was higher in infected mice exposed to cocaine. Cocaine administered only before infection did not exacerbate myocarditis. Norepinephrine (NE) assay showed that cocaine exposure significantly increased myocardial NE concentration but this increase was partially inhibited in infected animals. Adrenalectomy abolished the effect of cocaine on mortality. Furthermore, propranolol, a beta-blocker, significantly decreased the enhancing effects of cocaine on myocarditis mice. In conclusion, cocaine increases the severity and mortality of viral myocarditis in mice. Increased catecholamines may be a major factor responsible for this effect.
authors.affiliation: The Charles A. Dana Research Institute and Harvard-Thorndike Laboratory, Cardiovascular Division, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Ju-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jielin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiang-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Matthew F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Clyde S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Crumpacker
authors.forename: Walter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Abelmann
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004686:Encephalomyocarditis virus; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D013534:Survival; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine; D009638:Norepinephrine