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Abstract
This study investigated the effects of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on aldosterone and renin secretion via, (1) acute administration of MDMA to conscious Wistar rats, and (2) superfusion of whole rat adrenal capsules with 1μM and 10μM MDMA, in the presence of 5-HT. In study 1 basal aldosterone levels increased significantly from 3.490±1.1 nmol/1 to 12.099±2 nmol/1 after administration of MDMA (P<0.05). Control rats showed no significant increase in aldosterone secretion. Basal plasma renin activity (PRA) was 6.86±1.65 ng/ml/hr in the MDMA treated animals increasing to 228.56±34.1 ng/ml/hr after administration (P<0.05). In study 2 the aldosterone response to 5-HT was potentiated by 1μM and 10μM MDMA. No consistent stimulation of aldosterone was observed by MDMA alone. In conclusion, acute administration of MDMA to conscious rats causes activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. In addition, MDMA can potentiate the direct action of 5-HT on aldosterone secretion in vitro by a mechanism which could be associated with the 5-HT transporter.