Attenuation of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy)‐induced rhabdomyolysis with α1‐ plus β3‐adrenoreceptor antagonists

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.