Effect of pentoxifylline on histomorphological changes of kidney after Ecstasy (MDMA) administration in male wistar rat.

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA),the Ecstasy brand, leads to cell death in many tissues such askidney because of its oxidative properties. The present study aimed to investigate the possible effects ofpentoxifylline as a vasodilators on ecstasy induced renal damage. This experimental study was carried out infour groups of six male wistar rats weighing 250-300 g (n=24). The control group was kept under standardlaboratory conditions. Ecstasy was injected as 7.5 mg/kg, q 2 h × 3 doses intraperitoneally (IP) in the treatmentgroup. In PTX(PTX) treated group, 200 mg/kg of PTX was concurrently administered with the third dose ofecstasy injection and in vehicle group, normal saline was injected. The kidneys were evaluated for histomorphologicalchanges by H&E and PAS stainings. Then the degrees of renal damage were scored by ImageTools Version 2 software. Although no significant differences in diameter and number of glomerular cellsbetween control andPTX treated groups was detected, a significant difference was seen between vehicle andEcstasy groups (P < 0.05). Tubulointerstitial injury was seen in Ecstasy and vehicle groups but it had beendecreased in PTX treated group. Findings of this study suggest that PTX can exert asignificant effect onimproving the ecstasy induced renal tissue injuries.