Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) decreases neutrophil activity and alters leukocyte distribution in bone marrow, spleen and blood.
OBJECTIVE
Looking for possible neuroimmune relationships, we analyzed the effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) administration on neuroendocrine, neutrophil activity and leukocyte distribution in mice.


METHODS
Five experiments were performed. In the first, mice were treated with MDMA (10 mg/kg) 30, 60 min and 24 h prior to blood sample collection for neutrophil activity analysis. In the second experiment, the blood of naïve mice was collected and incubated with MDMA for neutrophil activity in vitro analysis. In the third and fourth experiments, mice were injected with MDMA (10 mg/kg) and 60 min later, blood and brain were collected to analyze corticosterone serum levels and hypothalamic noradrenaline (NA) levels and turnover. In the last experiment, mice were injected with MDMA 10 mg/kg and 60 min later, blood, bone marrow and spleen were collected for leukocyte distribution analysis.


RESULTS
Results showed an increase in hypothalamic NA turnover and corticosterone serum levels 60 min after MDMA (10 mg/kg) administration, a decrease in peripheral blood neutrophil oxidative burst and a decrease in the percentage and intensity of neutrophil phagocytosis. It was further found that MDMA (10 mg/kg) treatment also altered leukocyte distribution in blood, bone marrow and spleen. In addition, no effects were observed for MDMA after in vitro exposure both in neutrophil oxidative burst and phagocytosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of MDMA administration (10 mg/kg) on neutrophil activity and leukocyte distribution might have been induced indirectly through noradrenergic neurons and/or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activations.
de Paula
Viviane Ferraz
VF
Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ribeiro
Alison
A
Pinheiro
Milena L
ML
Sakai
Mônica
M
Lacava
Mariana C R
MC
Lapachinske
Silvio F
SF
Moreau
Regina L M
RL
Palermo-Neto
João
J
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D006213:Hallucinogens; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D003345:Corticosterone; D009638:Norepinephrine