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The relationship between core body temperature and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine metabolism in rats: implications for neurotoxicity

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Abstract

Rationale

A close relationship appears to exist between 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced changes in core body temperature and long-term serotonin (5-HT) loss.

Objective

We investigated whether changes in core body temperature affect MDMA metabolism.

Materials and methods

Male Wistar rats were treated with MDMA at ambient temperatures of 15, 21.5, or 30°C to prevent or exacerbate MDMA-induced hyperthermia. Plasma concentrations of MDMA and its main metabolites were determined for 6 h. Seven days later, animals were killed and brain indole content was measured.

Results

The administration of MDMA at 15°C blocked the hyperthermic response and long-term 5-HT depletion found in rats treated at 21.5°C. At 15°C, plasma concentrations of MDMA were significantly increased, whereas those of three of its main metabolites were reduced when compared to rats treated at 21.5°C. By contrast, hyperthermia and indole deficits were exacerbated in rats treated at 30°C. Noteworthy, plasma concentrations of MDMA metabolites were greatly enhanced in these animals. Instrastriatal perfusion of MDMA (100 μM for 5 h at 21°C) did not potentiate the long-term depletion of 5-HT after systemic MDMA. Furthermore, interfering in MDMA metabolism using the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor entacapone potentiated the neurotoxicity of MDMA, indicating that metabolites that are substrates for this enzyme may contribute to neurotoxicity.

Conclusions

This is the first report showing a direct relationship between core body temperature and MDMA metabolism. This finding has implications on both the temperature dependence of the mechanism of MDMA neurotoxicity and human use, as hyperthermia is often associated with MDMA use in humans.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank “Fundación para la Investigación Médica Aplicada” (FIMA) and Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia for a fellowship to B.G.-A. and E.P., respectively. This work was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (SAF2005-07919-C02–02), Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (PNSD), and the Spanish Networks of Excellence (ISCIII, Red de Trastornos Adictivos, and Red CIEN).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, c/ Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain

    Beatriz Goni-Allo, Elena Puerta, Berta Lasheras & Norberto Aguirre

  2. Pharmacology Research Unit, Institut Municipal d’Investigació Mèdica (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain

    Brian Ó Mathúna, Mireia Segura & Rafael de la Torre

  3. Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

    Brian Ó Mathúna, Mireia Segura & Rafael de la Torre

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  1. Beatriz Goni-Allo
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  2. Brian Ó Mathúna
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  3. Mireia Segura
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  4. Elena Puerta
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  5. Berta Lasheras
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  7. Norberto Aguirre
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Correspondence to Norberto Aguirre.

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Beatriz Goni-Allo and Brian Ó Mathúna contributed equally to this work.

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Goni-Allo, B., Ó Mathúna, B., Segura, M. et al. The relationship between core body temperature and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine metabolism in rats: implications for neurotoxicity. Psychopharmacology 197, 263–278 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-007-1027-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-007-1027-1

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