The effect of glutathione on nephrotoxicity, induced from 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in mice

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ecstasy, has had a widely spread popularity among young adults in recent years. Kidney toxicity is one of the consequences of ecstasy. The studies have shown that ecstasy is metabolized by cytochrome p450 to reactive electrophil metabolites which detoxify by glutathione (GSH) conjugation. To our knowledge in vivo study of the effect of glutathione on ecstasy –induced nephrotoxicity has not been reported previously. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of glutathione (as antioxidant agent) on ecstasy induced renal damage. Adult male N-MRI rats were pretreated with 300 mg/kg glutathione (ip). The Control group received vehicle was only (0.5 ml. normal saline). 30 min later, the animals were given ecstasy at doses of 10, 20 or 30 mg/kg. Control rats received vehicle only after 24 hours, animals were killed with over dose of sodium pentobarbital. Blood was collected for determination of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. The kidney tissues were removed, fixed and processed for light microscopy, using hematoxyline and eosine) H&E) staining method. Ecstasy induced dose related increased in BUN and creatinine concentration when compared to those in control group. Dose- dependent histopathological damage was also noted in rats treated with ecstasy. Glutathione had no effect on BUN and creatinine when compared to control animals. Similarly, GSH had no effect on kidney cells. However, this agent protected rat kidney against ecstasy-induced nephrotoxicity. The results of the present study suggested that GSH has the ability to protect kidney against ecstasy-induced toxicity.