Oxidative stress in rat kidneys due to 3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine (ecstasy) toxicity.
OBJECTIVE
The mechanism of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-induced toxicity is believed to be, in part, due to enhanced oxidative stress. As MDMA is eliminated via the kidney, the aim of this study was to investigate whether MDMA created conditions of oxidative stress within rat kidney.


METHODS
Adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, control treatment (water), acute MDMA administration (single oral dose: 5, 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg body weight) and subacute MDMA administration (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg body weight per day during 14 days). Animals were sacrificed 8 h after the single oral MDMA administration in the acute MDMA administration group and after the last MDMA administration in the subacute MDMA administration group. Rectal temperature measurements, oxidative stress status parameters and histological examinations were performed.


RESULTS
In all MDMA-administered rats, rectal temperature markedly increased peaking approximately 1 h after MDMA ingestion. Superoxide dismutase activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances increased after MDMA administration. Histological examinations of the kidney revealed dose-dependent disruption of tissue structure in subacute MDMA-administered rats. The latter was not observed in acute MDMA-administered rats.
Ninković
Milica
M
Institute of Medical Research, Military Medical Academy, Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Belgrade, Serbia. ninkomj@ptt.yu
Selaković
Vesna
V
Dukić
Mirjana
M
Milosavljević
Petar
P
Vasiljević
Ivana
I
Jovanović
Marina
M
Malicević
Zivorad
Z
D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; C016575:3,4-methylenedioxyphenethylamine; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase