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 as kidney because of its oxidative properties. The present study aimed to investigate the possible effects of pentoxifylline as a vasodilators on ecstasy induced renal damage. This experimental study was carried out in four groups of six male wistar rats weighing 250-300 g (n=24). The control group was kept under standard laboratory conditions. Ecstasy was injected as 7.5 mg/kg, q 2 h × 3 doses intraperitoneally (IP) in the treatment group. In PTX(PTX) treated group, 200 mg/kg of PTX was concurrently administered with the third dose of ecstasy injection and in vehicle group, normal saline was injected. The kidneys were evaluated for histomorphological changes by H&E and PAS stainings. Then the degrees of renal damage were scored by Image Tools Version 2 software. Although no significant differences in diameter and number of glomerular cells between control andPTX treated groups was detected, a significant difference was seen between vehicle and Ecstasy groups (P < 0.05). Tubulointerstitial injury was seen in Ecstasy and vehicle groups but it had been decreased in PTX treated group. Findings of this study suggest that PTX can exert asignificant effect on improving the ecstasy induced renal tissue injuries.