1
|
Du P, Du C, Wang R, Zhu H, Hua H, Cheng Y, Guo Y, Qian H. Caffeine combined with taurine improves cognitive function and locomotor performance in sleep-deprived mice. J Funct Foods 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2022.105298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
|
2
|
Histone Deacetylases and Immediate Early Genes: Key Players in Psychostimulant-Induced Neuronal Plasticity. Neurotox Res 2021; 39:2134-2140. [PMID: 34581974 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-021-00420-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
IEGs play a critical functional role of in molecular, cellular, and behavioral alterations induced by psychostimulants. IEGs appear to have specific chromatin structures that may contribute to the rapid activation of their transcription. HDAC enzymes regulate reversible acetylation of lysine residues of histones and non-histone proteins. Dysregulation of HDACs has been proposed to modulate the establishment and maintenance of aberrant transcriptional programs and behaviors associated with cognitive dysfunctions and drug addiction. In this mini-review we focus our attention on recent discoveries concerning networks of protein-protein interactions for the two classes of HDAC protein family members that are highly expressed in neurons, class I and IIa HDACs. Because dynamic histone acetylation appears to be critical to IEG expression in the brain, we discuss the role of these epigenetic regulators on IEG expression induced by cocaine and methamphetamine intake.
Collapse
|
3
|
Caffeine - treat or trigger? Disparate behavioral and long-term dopaminergic changes in control and schizophrenia-like Wisket rats. Physiol Behav 2021; 236:113410. [PMID: 33819453 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The influence of caffeine on behavioral functions in both healthy and schizophrenic subjects is controversial. Here we aimed to reveal the effects of repeated caffeine pre- and post-training treatments on motor and exploratory activities and cognitive functions in a reward-based test (Ambitus) along with a brain region-specific dopamine D2 receptor profile in control and schizophrenia-like WISKET model rats. In the control animals, pre-treatment caused temporary enhancement in motor activity, while permanent improvement in learning function was detected in the WISKET animals. Post-treatment produced significant impairments in both groups. Caffeine caused short-lasting hyperactivity followed by a rebound in the inactive phase determined in undisturbed circumstance. Caffeine treatment substantially enhanced the dopamine D2 receptor mediated G-protein activation in the prefrontal cortex and olfactory bulb of both groups, while it increased in the dorsal striatum and cerebral cortex only in the WISKET animals. Caffeine enhanced the maximal binding capacity in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of WISKET animals, but it decreased in the prefrontal cortex of the control animals. Regarding the dopamine D2 receptor mRNA expression, caffeine treatment caused significant enhancement in the prefrontal cortex of WISKET animals, while it increased the hippocampal dopamine D2 receptor protein amount in both groups. This study highlights the disparate effects of caffeine pre- versus post-training treatments on behavioral parameters in both control and schizophrenia-like animals and the prolonged changes in the dopaminergic system. It is supposed that the delayed depressive effects of caffeine might be compensated by frequent coffee intake, as observed in schizophrenic patients.
Collapse
|
4
|
Rivero-Echeto MC, Perissinotti PP, González-Inchauspe C, Kargieman L, Bisagno V, Urbano FJ. Simultaneous administration of cocaine and caffeine dysregulates HCN and T-type channels. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:787-810. [PMID: 33241481 PMCID: PMC7688300 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05731-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The abuse of psychostimulants has adverse consequences on the physiology of the central nervous system. In Argentina, and other South American countries, coca paste or "PACO" (cocaine and caffeine are its major components) is massively consumed with deleterious clinical consequences for the health and well-being of the general population. A scant number of studies have addressed the consequences of stimulant combination of cocaine and caffeine on the physiology of the somatosensory thalamocortical (ThCo) system. OBJECTIVES Our aim was to study ion conductances that have important implications regulating sleep-wake states 24-h after an acute or chronic binge-like administration of a cocaine and caffeine mixture following previously analyzed pasta base samples ("PACO"-like binge") using mice. METHODS We randomly injected (i.p.) male C57BL/6JFcen mice with a binge-like psychostimulants regimen during either 1 day (acute) or 1 day on/1 day off during 13 days for a total of 7 binges (chronic). Single-cell patch-clamp recordings of VB neurons were performed in thalamocortical slices 24 h after the last psychostimulant injection. We also recorded EEG/EMG from mice 24 h after being systemically treated with chronic administration of cocaine + caffeine versus saline, vehicle. RESULTS Our results showed notorious changes in the intrinsic properties of the VB nucleus neurons that persist after 24-h of either acute or chronic binge administrations of combined cocaine and caffeine ("PACO"-like binge). Functional dysregulation of HCN (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated) and T-type VGC (voltage-gated calcium) channels was described 24-h after acute/chronic "PACO"-like administrations. Furthermore, intracellular basal [Ca2+] disturbances resulted a key factor that modulated the availability and the activation of T-type channels, altering T-type "window currents." As a result, all these changes ultimately shaped the low-threshold spikes (LTS)-associated Ca2+ transients, regulated the membrane excitability, and altered sleep-wake transitions. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that deleterious consequences of stimulants cocaine and caffeine combination on the thalamocortical physiology as a whole might be related to potential neurotoxic effects of soaring intracellular [Ca2+].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Celeste Rivero-Echeto
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula P. Perissinotti
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlota González-Inchauspe
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucila Kargieman
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Verónica Bisagno
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco J. Urbano
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina ,grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular “Dr. Héctor Maldonado”, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina ,grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981IFIBYNE (UBA-CONICET), Intendente Güiraldes 2160, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bernardi A, Torres OV, Sosa M, Muñiz JA, Urbano FJ, Cadet JL, Bisagno V. Acute Regulation of the Arousal-Enhancing Drugs Caffeine and Modafinil on Class IIa HDACs In Vivo and In Vitro: Focus on HDAC7. Neurotox Res 2020; 38:498-507. [PMID: 32367472 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-020-00200-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Psychostimulant drugs, such as modafinil and caffeine, induce transcriptional alterations through the dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms. We have previously demonstrated that acute modafinil administration is accompanied by multiple changes in the expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) within the mouse medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Herein, we compared alterations in class IIa HDACs in the mouse mPFC and dorsal striatum (DS) after a single exposure to each psychostimulant. We treated male C57BL/6 mice with modafinil (90 mg/kg, i.p.), caffeine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), or vehicle and evaluated locomotor activity. Following, we examined hdac4, hdac5, and hdac7 mRNA expression using qRT-PCR and HDAC7, pHDAC7, and pHDACs4/5/7 using Western blot. Last, we explored generalized effects in N2a cell line using modafinil (100 μM and 1 mM) or caffeine (80 μM and 800 μM). Our results indicate that modafinil had greater effects on locomotor activity compared with caffeine. qRT-PCR experiments revealed that modafinil decreased hdac5 and hdac7 mRNA expression in the DS, while caffeine had no effects. In the mPFC, modafinil increased hdac7 mRNA expression, with no effects observed for caffeine. Western blot revealed that within the DS, modafinil induced increases in HDAC7, pHDAC7, and pHDACs4/5/7 protein expression, while, in the mPFC, caffeine induced decreases in HDAC7, pHDAC7, and pHDACs4/5/7 protein levels. In vitro studies revealed that modafinil increased hdac4, hdac5, and hdac7 mRNA levels in N2a, while caffeine only increased hdac5 at a higher dose. These findings support the notion that modafinil and caffeine exert distinct regulation of class IIa HDAC family members and that these transcriptional and translational consequences are region-specific.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Bernardi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Junín 956, piso 5, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, C1113, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Oscar V Torres
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Maximo Sosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Junín 956, piso 5, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, C1113, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier A Muñiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Junín 956, piso 5, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, C1113, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco J Urbano
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jean Lud Cadet
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Veronica Bisagno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Junín 956, piso 5, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, C1113, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Prieto JP, González B, Muñiz J, Bisagno V, Scorza C. Molecular changes in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex associated with the locomotor sensitization induced by coca paste seized samples. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1481-1491. [PMID: 32034449 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05474-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE In previous studies, we have demonstrated that seized samples of a smokable form of cocaine, also known as coca paste (CP), induced behavioral sensitization in rats. Interestingly, this effect was accelerated and enhanced when the samples were adulterated with caffeine. While the cocaine phenomenon is associated with persistent functional and structural alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), the molecular mechanisms underlying the CP sensitization and the influence of caffeine remains still unknown. OBJECTIVE We examined the gene expression in NAc and mPFC after the expression caffeine-adulterated and non-adulterated CP locomotor sensitization. METHODS The locomotor sensitization was established in C57BL/6 mice, repeatedly treated with a CP-seized sample adulterated with caffeine (CP-2) and a non-adulterated one (CP-1). We then assessed the mRNA expression of receptor subunits of the dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems in the medial PFC (mPFC) and NAc. Other molecular markers (e.g., adenosinergic, endocannabinoid receptor subunits, and synaptic plasticity-associated genes) were also analyzed. RESULTS Only CP-2-treated mice expressed locomotor sensitization. This phenomenon was associated with increased Drd1a, Gria1, Cnr1, and Syn mRNA expression levels in the NAc. Drd3 mRNA expression levels were only significantly increased in mPFC of CP-2-treated group. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that caffeine actively collaborates in the induction of the molecular changes underlying CP sensitization. The present study provides new knowledge on the impact of active adulterants to understand the early dependence induced by CP consumption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Pedro Prieto
- Departamento de Neurofarmacología Experimental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Betina González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Muñiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Verónica Bisagno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Scorza
- Departamento de Neurofarmacología Experimental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Vigo MB, Pérez MJ, De Fino F, Gómez G, Martínez SA, Bisagno V, Di Carlo MB, Scazziota A, Manautou JE, Ghanem CI. Acute acetaminophen intoxication induces direct neurotoxicity in rats manifested as astrogliosis and decreased dopaminergic markers in brain areas associated with locomotor regulation. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 170:113662. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.113662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
|
8
|
Sanchez JM. Methylxanthine Content in Commonly Consumed Foods in Spain and Determination of Its Intake during Consumption. Foods 2017; 6:foods6120109. [PMID: 29207513 PMCID: PMC5742777 DOI: 10.3390/foods6120109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylxanthines present psychostimulant effects. These compounds have low toxicity and their consumption at moderate levels presents some beneficial health effects, whereas some significant risk appears at high levels. Samples of common types of methylxanthine-containing beverages and foods consumed in Spain were analyzed to determine their content. Caffeine was the methylxanthine that was most found in the samples investigated. Instant coffees gave the highest caffeine percentage (18–44 mg·g−1). Green and scented teas were found to have a caffeine dry-weight content (8–26 mg·g−1) equivalent to ground coffees (13–23 mg·g−1), but black and pu-erh teas (18–30 mg·g−1) had a higher caffeine content. The evaluation of the most conventional methods for preparing espresso coffees showed that an espresso contains between 88–116 mg of caffeine. In the case of tea beverages, the amount of caffeine present was 2–3 times smaller than in espresso coffees. Energy drinks showed a similar caffeine content (80–106 mg) as espresso coffees. Chocolates had the lowest caffeine content. It has been found that none of the foods evaluated reach the recommended daily intake limit of 400 mg of caffeine with a single dose. This limit can be reached with 4–5 doses in the case of coffees and energy drinks. In the case of chocolates, the methylxanthine compound detected at large levels was theobromine, with amounts ranging from 4 to 10 mg·g−1 for dark chocolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Sanchez
- Chemistry Department, University of Girona, 17003-Girona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Muñiz JA, Prieto JP, González B, Sosa MH, Cadet JL, Scorza C, Urbano FJ, Bisagno V. Cocaine and Caffeine Effects on the Conditioned Place Preference Test: Concomitant Changes on Early Genes within the Mouse Prefrontal Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:200. [PMID: 29093669 PMCID: PMC5651260 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Caffeine is the world's most popular psychostimulant and is frequently used as an active adulterant in many illicit drugs including cocaine. Previous studies have shown that caffeine can potentiate the stimulant effects of cocaine and cocaine-induced drug seeking behavior. However, little is known about the effects of this drug combination on reward-related learning, a key process in the maintenance of addiction and vulnerability to relapse. The goal of the present study was thus to determine caffeine and cocaine combined effects on the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) test and to determine potential differential mRNA expression in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of immediate-early genes (IEGs) as well as dopamine and adenosine receptor subunits. Mice were treated with caffeine (5 mg/kg, CAF), cocaine (10 mg/kg, COC), or their combination (caffeine 5 mg/kg + cocaine 10 mg/kg, CAF-COC) and trained in the CPP test or treated with repeated injections inside the home cage. NAc and mPFC tissues were dissected immediately after the CPP test, after a single conditioning session or following psychostimulant injection in the home cage for mRNA expression analysis. CAF-COC induced a marked change of preference to the drug conditioned side of the CPP and a significant increase in locomotion compared to COC. Gene expression analysis after CPP test revealed specific up-regulation in the CAF-COC group of Drd1a, cFos, and FosB in the NAc, and cFos, Egr1, and Npas4 in the mPFC. Importantly, none of these changes were observed when animals received same treatments in their home cage. With a single conditioning session, we found similar effects in both CAF and CAF-COC groups: increased Drd1a and decreased cFos in the NAc, and increased expression of Drd1a and Drd2, in the mPFC. Interestingly, we found that cFos and Npas4 gene expression were increased only in the mPFC of the CAF-COC. Our study provides evidence that caffeine acting as an adulterant could potentiate reward-associated memories elicited by cocaine. This is associated with specific changes in IEGs expression that were observed almost exclusively in mice that received the combination of both psychostimulants in the context of CPP memory encoding and retrieval. Our results highlight the potential relevance of caffeine in the maintenance of cocaine addiction which might be mediated by modifying neural plasticity mechanisms that strengthen learning of the association between drug and environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier A Muñiz
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José P Prieto
- Departamento de Neurofarmacología Experimental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Betina González
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Máximo H Sosa
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jean L Cadet
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Intramural Program, Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Cecilia Scorza
- Departamento de Neurofarmacología Experimental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Francisco J Urbano
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Verónica Bisagno
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kudlacek O, Hofmaier T, Luf A, Mayer FP, Stockner T, Nagy C, Holy M, Freissmuth M, Schmid R, Sitte HH. Cocaine adulteration. J Chem Neuroanat 2017; 83-84:75-81. [PMID: 28619473 PMCID: PMC7610562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine is a naturally occurring and illicitly used psychostimulant drug. Cocaine acts at monoaminergic neurotransmitter transporters to block uptake of the monoamines, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. The resulting increase of monoamines in the extracellular space underlies the positively reinforcing effects that cocaine users seek. In turn, this increase in monoamines underlies the development of addiction, and can also result in a number of severe side effects. Currently, cocaine is one of the most common illicit drugs available on the European market. However, cocaine is increasingly sold in impure forms. This trend is driven by cocaine dealers seeking to increase their profit margin by mixing ("cutting") cocaine with numerous other compounds ("adulterants"). Importantly, these undeclared compounds put cocaine consumers at risk, because consumers are not aware of the additional potential threats to their health. This review describes adulterants that have been identified in cocaine sold on the street market. Their typical pharmacological profile and possible reasons why these compounds can be used as cutting agents will be discussed. Since a subset of these adulterants has been found to exert effects similar to cocaine itself, we will discuss levamisole, the most frequently used cocaine cutting agent today, and its metabolite aminorex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Kudlacek
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Waehringerstrasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tina Hofmaier
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Waehringerstrasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anton Luf
- Medical University of Vienna, Clinical Department of Laboratory Medicine, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix P Mayer
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Waehringerstrasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Stockner
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Waehringerstrasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Constanze Nagy
- checkit!-Suchthilfe Wien gGmbH, Gumpendorferstraße8, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marion Holy
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Waehringerstrasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Freissmuth
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Waehringerstrasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rainer Schmid
- Medical University of Vienna, Clinical Department of Laboratory Medicine, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald H Sitte
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Waehringerstrasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Center for Addiction Research and Science - Medical University Vienna, Waehringerstrasse 13A, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Caffeine Induces a Stimulant Effect and Increases Dopamine Release in the Nucleus Accumbens Shell Through the Pulmonary Inhalation Route of Administration in Rats. Neurotox Res 2016; 31:90-98. [PMID: 27631327 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-016-9667-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oral, intraperitoneal, or intravenous have been the common routes of administration used to study the behavioral and neurochemical pharmacology of caffeine, one of the most widely used psychoactive substances worldwide. We have reported that caffeine is an active adulterant frequently found in coca-paste (CP)-seized samples, a highly addictive form of smokable cocaine. The role of caffeine in the psychostimulant and neurochemical effects induced by CP remains under study. No preclinical animal studies have been performed so far to characterize the effects of caffeine when it is administered through the pulmonary inhalation route. Caffeine (10, 25, and 50 mg) was volatilized and rats were exposed to one inhalation session of its vapor. The stimulant effect was automatically recorded and plasmatic levels of caffeine were measured. Caffeine capability (50 mg) to increase extracellular dopamine (DA) levels in nucleus accumbens shell was also studied by in vivo microdialysis in non-anesthetized animals. A dose-dependent stimulant effect induced by volatilized caffeine was observed and this effect was directly related with caffeine plasmatic levels. A significant increase in the extracellular DA was achieved after 50 mg of volatilized caffeine exposure. This is the first report showing pharmacological acute effects of caffeine through the pulmonary inhalation route of administration and suggests that this could be a condition under which caffeine can elevate its weak reinforcing effect and even enhance the psychostimulant effect and abuse liability of smokable adulterated psychostimulant drugs.
Collapse
|
12
|
Selected Literature Watch. JOURNAL OF CAFFEINE RESEARCH 2016. [DOI: 10.1089/jcr.2016.29001.slw] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
|