Attenuation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy)-induced rhabdomyolysis with alpha1- plus beta3-adrenoreceptor antagonists

Br J Pharmacol. 2004 Jun;142(4):667-70. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705823. Epub 2004 May 24.

Abstract

1. Studies were designed to examine the effects of alpha(1) (alpha(1)AR)- plus beta(3)-adrenoreceptor (beta(3)AR) antagonists on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy)-induced hyperthermia and measures of rhabdomyolysis (creatine kinase (CK)) and renal function (blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr)) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. 2. MDMA (40 mg x kg(-1), s.c.) induced a rapid and robust increase in rectal temperature, which was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with the alpha(1)AR antagonist prazosin (100 microg x kg(-1), i.p.) plus the beta(3)AR antagonist SR59230A (5 mg x kg(-1), i.p.). 3. CK levels significantly increased (peaking at 4 h) after MDMA treatment and were blocked by the combination of prazosin plus SR59230A. 4. At 4 h after MDMA treatment, BUN and sCr levels were also significantly increased and could be prevented by this combination of alpha(1)AR- plus beta(3)AR-antagonists. 5. The results from this study suggest that alpha(1)AR and beta(3)AR play a critical role in the etiology of MDMA-mediated hyperthermia and subsequent rhabdomyolysis.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Adrenergic beta-3 Receptor Antagonists
  • Animals
  • Blood Urea Nitrogen
  • Body Temperature / drug effects
  • Body Temperature / physiology
  • Creatine Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Creatine Kinase / blood
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Fever / chemically induced
  • Fever / physiopathology
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Male
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / administration & dosage
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / adverse effects*
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Prazosin / administration & dosage
  • Prazosin / blood
  • Prazosin / pharmacokinetics
  • Propanolamines / administration & dosage
  • Propanolamines / blood
  • Propanolamines / pharmacokinetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / administration & dosage
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / therapeutic use*
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / administration & dosage
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / therapeutic use*
  • Rhabdomyolysis / chemically induced*
  • Rhabdomyolysis / prevention & control*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • 3-(2-ethylphenoxy)-1-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphth-1-ylamino)-2-propanol oxalate
  • Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
  • Adrenergic beta-3 Receptor Antagonists
  • Propanolamines
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3
  • Creatine Kinase
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
  • Prazosin