title: Strenuous exercise aggravates MDMA-induced skeletal muscle damage in mice.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ecstasy (MDMA) administration on body temperature and soleus muscle histology in exercised and non-exercised mice. Charles-River mice were distributed into four groups: Control (C), exercise (EX), MDMA treated (M), and M + EX. The treated animals received an i.p. injection (10 mg/kg) of MDMA (saline for C and EX), and the exercise consisted of a 90 min level run at a velocity of 900 m/h, immediately after the MDMA or saline administration. Body temperature was recorded every 30 min via subcutaneous implanted transponder. Animals were sacrificed 1.5, 25.5, and 49.5 h after i.p. injection and the soleus muscles were removed and processed for light and electron microscopy. The MDMA-treated animals showed a significant increase in body temperature (similar in M and M + EX groups), reaching the peak 90 min after i.p. administration; their temperature remained higher than control for more than 5 h. The EX group evidenced a similar and parallel, yet lower temperature increase during exercise and recovery. Morphological signs of damage were rarely encountered in the EX group; they were more pronounced in M group and even aggravated in M + EX group. In conclusion, MDMA and exercise per se increased body temperature but in conjunction did not have a cumulated effect. However, ecstasy and concomitant physical activity might severely accumulate with regard to skeletal muscle toxicity and may lead to rhabdomyolysis.
authors.affiliation: CIAFEL, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa 91, 4200 Porto, Portugal. jarduarte@fcdef.up.pt
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Anabela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leão
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ascensão
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Francisco L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Amado
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vilarinho
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quelhas
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Appell
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine