The Effect of Ecstasy Administration during Pregnancy on Mice Fetuses

Ecstasy or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine(MDMA) is a psychotropic and addictive substance that young people tend to use it to reduce their psychological and social tensions. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of ecstasy consumption on the fetus of pregnant mice during the second and third weeks of pregnancy. 20 adult female mice were randomly selected(5 for control group and 15 for experimental group). Two intraperitoneal injections of ecstasy(5mg/Kg) was used in the experimental group, on 7th and 14th days of pregnancy, while, in the control group, only distilled water was injected intraperitoneally. On 18th day of pregnancy, mice were placed in separate cages. The condition of palate, skull, external ear, eye, fingers and toes and sindactily, weight, and fertility potentials of newborn mice were studied using stereo microscope. From 163 newborn mice in two groups, no abnormalities were observed in the skull and the external ear. There wasn’t any significant difference between male and female sex ratio between two groups (p=.08). Hypoplasia of the fingers was significantly different between the two groups(p<0.001). The frequency of sindactily was not significantly different between two groups(p=0. 11). Female fertility potential was significantly different between two groups(p<0.001). Adminstration of ecstasy during pregnancy may affect the organogenesis and fertility potential of newborn mice. Therefore, more studies are needed in this regard.