The effects of amfonelic acid on 5-HT metabolism in rat brain

Regulation of dopamine receptors by bupropion: comparison with antidepressants and CNS stimulants

Acute treatment of rats with the antidepressant bupropion increased [3H]spiperone binding to D2 receptors in vivo. This dose- and time-dependent effect was greatest in striatum and minimal in cerebellum and pituitary. A parallel behavioral stimulation occurred in the same rats. Among 21 antidepressants and CNS stimulants tested, only those that activate dopamine (DA) transmission had similar effects: nomifensine, amineptine, methylphenidate, D-amphetamine, amfonelic acid, cocaine, benztropine and GBR 12909. Decreasing DA transmission with reserpine plus alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine prevented the action of bupropion. Finally, bupropion was inactive in vitro and ex-vivo. Therefore, we propose that bupropion and other DA-enhancing agents modify the characteristics of [3H]spiperone binding through the intervention of a dynamic regulation of the D2 receptors by the neurotransmitter itself.

Endogenous dopamine (DA) modulates [3H]spiperone binding in vivo in rat brain

[3H]spiperone (SPI) binding in vivo, biochemical parameters and behavior were measured after modulating DA levels by various drug treatments. DA releasers and uptake inhibitors increased SPI binding in rat striatum. In other brain areas, the effects were variable, but only the pituitary remained unaffected. Surprisingly, nomifensine decreased SPI binding in frontal cortex. The effects of these drugs were monitored by measuring DA, serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites in the same rats. The increased SPI binding in striatum was parallel to the locomotor stimulation with the following rank order: amfonelic acid greater than nomifensine greater than D-amphetamine greater than or equal to methylphenidate greater than amineptine greater than bupropion. Decreasing DA levels with reserpine or alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine reduced SPI binding by 45% in striatum only when both drugs were combined. In contrast, reserpine enhanced SPI binding in pituitary. Thus, the amount of releasable DA seems to modulate SPI binding characteristics. It is suggested that in vivo, DA receptors are submitted to dynamic regulation in response to changes in intrasynaptic concentrations of DA.

The effect of amfonelic acid or nisoxetine in combination with morphine on brain-stimulation reward

Many drugs of abuse, including stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine, and opioids like morphine and heroin, will lower threshold at which rats will work to receive electrical stimulation to the medial forebrain bundle-lateral hypothalamic region (MFB-LH). This effect is even greater when the two classes of drugs are coadministered. The underlying mechanisms by which this occurs are not completely understood, however there is considerable evidence suggesting that the catecholamines play a major role in mediating the reinforcing effects of these drugs. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of amfonelic acid, an indirect dopamine agonist, and nisoxetine, a highly selective norepinephrine uptake blocker, alone and in combination with morphine, on the reward threshold for rewarding electrical intracranial stimulation. As in previous studies, morphine, as well as amfonelic acid, lowered the reward threshold with the amfonelic acid causing greater threshold lowerings than that of morphine. When a low (ineffective) dose of amfonelic acid was administered concomitantly with morphine, the threshold lowerings observed were larger than those seen with either drug alone and were often more than additive. Nisoxetine alone had no effect on the reward threshold and produced inconsistent results when combined with morphine. These findings support the thesis that amfonelic acid has abuse potential, and that its reinforcing effects may, in fact, be even greater than that of the opioids. Further, these results support the hypothesis that dopamine plays a more critical role in mediating brain-stimulation reward than dose norepinephrine.

Intravenous self-administration of the indirect dopaminergic agonist amfonelic acid by rats

The reinforcing properties of amfonelic acid, a nonamphetamine psychostimulant, were evaluated in an intravenous self-administration paradigm. Rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.5-3.0 mg/kg/infusion) on a fixed-ratio 10 schedule of reinforcement via surgically implanted intravenous catheters during daily 4-hr sessions. Substitution of amfonelic acid (0.0625-0.250 mg/kg/infusion) reliably maintained self-administration in a dose-dependent manner. These data indicate that amfonelic acid can act as a reinforcer in rats, and further suggest that amfonelic acid may have abuse potential in humans.

Potentiation of morphine analgesia by D-amphetamine is mediated by norepinephrine and not dopamine

Morphine will raise the threshold for escape from aversive electrical stimulation delivered to the mesencephalic reticular formation and this effect is potentiated by D-amphetamine. In order to study the roles which dopamine and norepinephrine play in modulating opiate analgesia, the effects of amfonelic acid, an indirect dopamine agonist, and nisoxetine, a selective norepinephrine reuptake blocker, were determined alone and in combination with morphine using this supraspinal model of analgesia. Amfonelic acid alone produced hyperalgesia and completely antagonized the analgesic effect of morphine. Nisoxetine had no effect by itself, however, it potentiated the analgesic effect of morphine when the two drugs were administered concomitantly. These findings suggest that norepinephrine and not dopamine plays a predominant role in the potentiation of opiate analgesia by D-amphetamine.

Interaction of the D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 with the central 5-HT system: radioligand binding studies, measurements of biochemical parameters and effects on L-5-HTP syndrome

The interaction of SCH 23390 with dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) systems has been examined in vivo and in vitro. Like selective 5-HT2 blockers, SCH 23390 inhibited in vivo [3H]spiperone binding in the rat frontal cortex (ID50: 1.5 mg/kg) without interacting at D2 sites. SCH 23390 was equipotent to cinanserin and methysergide. In vitro, SCH 23390 inhibited [3H]ketanserin binding to 5-HT2 sites (IC50 = 30 nM). Biochemical parameters linked to DA and 5-HT were not changed excepted in striatum where SCH 23390 increased HVA and DOPAC. In the L-5-HTP syndrome model, SCH 23390 clearly showed antagonism of 5-HT2 receptors. SCH 23390 had weak affinity for 5-HT1B (IC50 = 0.5 microM), 5-HT1A (IC50 = 2.6 microM) and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (IC50 = 4.4 microM).