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Chen S, Zhou W, Lai M. Synthetic Cathinones: Epidemiology, Toxicity, Potential for Abuse, and Current Public Health Perspective. Brain Sci 2024; 14:334. [PMID: 38671986 PMCID: PMC11048581 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14040334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones, derived from cathinone found in the plant Catha edulis, represent the second largest and most frequently seized group of new psychoactive substances. They are considered as β-keto analogs of amphetamine, sharing pharmacological effects with amphetamine and cocaine. This review describes the neurotoxic properties of synthetic cathinones, encompassing their capacity to induce neuroinflammation, dysregulate neurotransmitter systems, and alter monoamine transporters and receptors. Additionally, it discusses the rewarding and abuse potential of synthetic cathinones drawing from findings obtained through various preclinical animal models, contextualized with other classical psychostimulants. The review also offers an overview of current abuse trends of synthetic cathinones on the illicit drug market, specifying the aspects covered, and underscores the risks they pose to public health. Finally, the review discusses public health initiatives and efforts to reduce the hazards of synthetic cathinones, including harm reduction methods, education, and current clinical management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315201, China; (S.C.); (W.Z.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Wenhua Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315201, China; (S.C.); (W.Z.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo 315201, China
| | - Miaojun Lai
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315201, China; (S.C.); (W.Z.)
- Department of Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo 315201, China
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2
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Angoa-Perez M, Kuhn DM. The pharmacology and neurotoxicology of synthetic cathinones. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2023; 99:61-82. [PMID: 38467489 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The synthetic cathinones are man-made compounds derived from the naturally occurring drug cathinone, which is found in the khat plant. The drugs in this pharmacological class that will be the focus of this chapter include mephedrone, MDPV, methcathinone and methylone. These drugs are colloquially known as "bath salts". This misnomer suggests that these drugs are used for health improvement or that they have legitimate medical uses. The synthetic cathinones are dangerous drugs with powerful pharmacological effects that include high abuse potential, hyperthermia and hyperlocomotion. These drugs also share many of the pharmacological effects of the amphetamine class of drugs including methamphetamine, amphetamine and MDMA and therefore have high potential to cause damage to the central nervous system. The synthetic cathinones are frequently taken in combination with other psychoactive drugs such as alcohol, marijuana and the amphetamine-like stimulants, creating a situation where heightened pharmacological and neurotoxicological effects are likely to occur. Despite the structural features shared by the synthetic cathinones and amphetamine-like stimulants, including their actions at monoamine transporters and receptors, the effects of the synthetic cathinones do not always match those of the amphetamines. In particular, the synthetic cathinones are far less neurotoxic than their amphetamine counterparts, they produce a weaker hyperthermia, and they cause less glial activation. This chapter will briefly review the pharmacology and neurotoxicology of selected synthetic cathinones with the aim of delineating key areas of agreement and disagreement in the literature particularly as it relates to neurotoxicological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Angoa-Perez
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Donald M Kuhn
- Research and Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States.
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3
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Heal DJ, Gosden J, Smith SL, Atterwill CK. Experimental strategies to discover and develop the next generation of psychedelics and entactogens as medicines. Neuropharmacology 2023; 225:109375. [PMID: 36529260 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Research on classical psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD and DMT) and entactogen, MDMA, has produced a renaissance in the search for more effective drugs to treat psychiatric, neurological and various peripheral disorders. Psychedelics and entactogens act though interaction with 5-HT2A and other serotonergic receptors and/or monoamine reuptake transporters. 5-HT, which serves as a neurotransmitter and hormone, is ubiquitously distributed in the brain and peripheral organs, tissues and cells where it has vasoconstrictor, pro-inflammatory and pro-nociceptive actions. Serotonergic psychedelics and entactogens have known safety and toxicity risks. For these drugs, the risks been extensively researched and empirically assessed through human experience. However, novel drug-candidates require thorough non-clinical testing not only to predict clinical efficacy, but also to address the risks they pose during clinical development and later after approval as prescription medicines. We have defined the challenges researchers will encounter when developing novel serotonergic psychedelics and entactogens. We describe screening techniques to predict clinical efficacy and address the safety/toxicity risks emerging from our knowledge of the existing drugs: 1) An early-stage, non-clinical screening cascade to pharmacologically characterise novel drug-candidates. 2) Models to detect hallucinogenic activity. 3) Models to differentiate hallucinogens from entactogens. 4) Non-clinical preclinical lead optimisation technology (PLOT) screening to select drug-candidates. 5) Modified animal models to evaluate the abuse and dependence risks of novel psychedelics in Safety Pharmacology testing. Our intention has been to design non-clinical screening strategies that will reset the balance between benefits and harms to deliver more effective and safer novel psychedelics for clinical use. This article is part of the Special Issue on 'National Institutes of Health Psilocybin Research Speaker Series'.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Heal
- DevelRx Ltd, BioCity, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, UK; Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - J Gosden
- DevelRx Ltd, BioCity, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, UK.
| | - S L Smith
- DevelRx Ltd, BioCity, Nottingham, NG1 1GF, UK.
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Bielecka-Papierz G, Serefko A, Szopa A, Talarek S, Wróbel A, Szewczyk B, Radziwoń-Zaleska M, Kołtun-Jasion M, Poleszak E. The role of the L-arginine-NO-cGMP-dependent pathway in the development of sensitization to mephedrone effects on the locomotor activity in mice. Behav Brain Res 2023; 437:114103. [PMID: 36089098 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Mephedrone, a popular psychostimulating substance widely used illegally in recreational purposes, exerts in rodents that regularly and intermittently were exposed to it a sensitized response to the drug. Behavioral sensitization is one of experimental models of drug dependency/abuse liability. In the present study we evaluated a potential involvement of the L-arginine-NO-cGMP pathway in the development of sensitization to the mephedrone-induced hyperlocomotion. Locomotor activity was measured automatically and experiments were performed on male Albino Swiss mice. We demonstrated that a 5-day administration of 7-nitroindazole (10 or 20 mg/kg/day) and L-NAME (50 mg/kg/day) suppressed the development of sensitization to the mephedrone-induced hyperlocomotion. As for L-arginine (125 or 250 mg/kg/day) and methylene blue (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) the obtained outcomes are inconclusive. Furthermore, the lower dose of L-NAME (25 mg/kg/day) surprisingly potentiated the development of sensitization to the mephedrone-induced effects on the spontaneous locomotor activity in mice. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that modulators of the L-arginine-NO-cGMP pathway may differently affect the development of sensitization to the locomotor stimulant effects of mephedrone. Inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) seems to prevent this process quite profoundly, non-selective inhibition of NOS may have a dual effect, whereas inhibition of soluble guanylate cyclase may only partially suppress the development of sensitization to the mephedrone-induced effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Bielecka-Papierz
- Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Anna Serefko
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing, Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Szopa
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing, Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Sylwia Talarek
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, 4a Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Andrzej Wróbel
- Second Department of Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, 8 Jaczewskiego Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Bernadeta Szewczyk
- Department of Neurobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Maria Radziwoń-Zaleska
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Nowowiejska Street, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Kołtun-Jasion
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Basis of Phytotherapy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Poleszak
- Laboratory of Preclinical Testing, Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
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Mayer FP, Niello M, Cintulova D, Sideromenos S, Maier J, Li Y, Bulling S, Kudlacek O, Schicker K, Iwamoto H, Deng F, Wan J, Holy M, Katamish R, Sandtner W, Li Y, Pollak DD, Blakely RD, Mihovilovic MD, Baumann MH, Sitte HH. Serotonin-releasing agents with reduced off-target effects. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:722-732. [PMID: 36352123 PMCID: PMC9645344 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01843-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Increasing extracellular levels of serotonin (5-HT) in the brain ameliorates symptoms of depression and anxiety-related disorders, e.g., social phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. Recent evidence from preclinical and clinical studies established the therapeutic potential of drugs inducing the release of 5-HT via the 5-HT-transporter. Nevertheless, current 5-HT releasing compounds under clinical investigation carry the risk for abuse and deleterious side effects. Here, we demonstrate that S-enantiomers of certain ring-substituted cathinones show preference for the release of 5-HT ex vivo and in vivo, and exert 5-HT-associated effects in preclinical behavioral models. Importantly, the lead cathinone compounds (1) do not induce substantial dopamine release and (2) display reduced off-target activity at vesicular monoamine transporters and 5-HT2B-receptors, indicative of low abuse-liability and low potential for adverse events. Taken together, our findings identify these agents as lead compounds that may prove useful for the treatment of disorders where elevation of 5-HT has proven beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix P. Mayer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria ,grid.255951.fDepartment of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458 USA
| | - Marco Niello
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniela Cintulova
- grid.5329.d0000 0001 2348 4034Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Spyridon Sideromenos
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julian Maier
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yang Li
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria ,grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Present Address: Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032 China
| | - Simon Bulling
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Kudlacek
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Klaus Schicker
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hideki Iwamoto
- grid.255951.fStiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458 USA
| | - Fei Deng
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319IDG McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Jinxia Wan
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319IDG McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Marion Holy
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rania Katamish
- grid.255951.fDepartment of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458 USA
| | - Walter Sandtner
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yulong Li
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319IDG McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Daniela D. Pollak
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Randy D. Blakely
- grid.255951.fDepartment of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458 USA ,grid.255951.fStiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458 USA
| | - Marko D. Mihovilovic
- grid.5329.d0000 0001 2348 4034Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael H. Baumann
- grid.94365.3d0000 0001 2297 5165Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA
| | - Harald H. Sitte
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, 1090 Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492AddRess, Center for Addiction Research and Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Poyatos L, Pérez-Mañá C, Hladun O, Núñez-Montero M, de la Rosa G, Martín S, Barriocanal AM, Carabias L, Kelmendi B, Taoussi O, Busardò FP, Fonseca F, Torrens M, Pichini S, Farré M, Papaseit E. Pharmacological effects of methylone and MDMA in humans. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1122861. [PMID: 36873994 PMCID: PMC9981643 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1122861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Methylone is one of the most common synthetic cathinones popularized as a substitute for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, midomafetamine) owing to its similar effects among users. Both psychostimulants exhibit similar chemistry (i.e., methylone is a β-keto analog of MDMA) and mechanisms of action. Currently, the pharmacology of methylone remains scarcely explored in humans. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the acute pharmacological effects of methylone and its abuse potential in humans when compared with that of MDMA following oral administration under controlled conditions. Seventeen participants of both sexes (14 males, 3 females) with a previous history of psychostimulant use completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial. Participants received a single oral dose of 200 mg of methylone, 100 mg of MDMA, and a placebo. The variables included physiological effects (blood pressure, heart rate, oral temperature, pupil diameter), subjective effects using visual analog scales (VAS), the short form of the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI), the Evaluation of Subjective Effects of Substances with Abuse Potential questionnaire (VESSPA-SSE), and the Sensitivity to Drug Reinforcement Questionnaire (SDRQ), and psychomotor performance (Maddox wing, psychomotor vigilance task). We observed that methylone could significantly increase blood pressure and heart rate and induce pleasurable effects, such as stimulation, euphoria, wellbeing, enhanced empathy, and altered perception. Methylone exhibited an effect profile similar to MDMA, with a faster overall onset and earlier disappearance of subjective effects. These results suggest that abuse potential of methylone is comparable to that of MDMA in humans. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05488171; Identifier: NCT05488171.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Poyatos
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Clara Pérez-Mañá
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
- *Correspondence: Clara Pérez-Mañá, ; Magí Farré,
| | - Olga Hladun
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Melani Núñez-Montero
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Georgina de la Rosa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Soraya Martín
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Ana Maria Barriocanal
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Lydia Carabias
- Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Benjamin Kelmendi
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Omayema Taoussi
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francina Fonseca
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Addiction Program, Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Torrens
- Addiction Program, Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Magí Farré
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
- *Correspondence: Clara Pérez-Mañá, ; Magí Farré,
| | - Esther Papaseit
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
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Effects of the Phenethylamine 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA and the Synthetic Cathinone 3,4-MDPHP in Adolescent Rats: Focus on Sex Differences. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102336. [PMID: 36289598 PMCID: PMC9598216 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The illicit drug market of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) is expanding, becoming an alarming threat due to increasing intoxication cases and insufficient (if any) knowledge of their effects. Phenethylamine 2-chloro-4,5-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (2-Cl-4,5-MDMA) and synthetic cathinone 3,4-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (3,4-MDPHP) are new, emerging NPSs suggested to be particularly dangerous. This study verified whether these two new drugs (i) possess abuse liability, (ii) alter plasma corticosterone levels, and (iii) interfere with dopaminergic transmission; male and female adolescent rats were included to evaluate potential sex differences in the drug-induced effects. Findings show that the two NPSs are not able to sustain reliable self-administration behavior in rats, with cumulatively earned injections of drugs being not significantly different from cumulatively earned injections of saline in control groups. Yet, at the end of the self-administration training, females (but not males) exhibited higher plasma corticosterone levels after chronic exposure to low levels of 3,4-MDPHP (but not of 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA). Finally, electrophysiological patch-clamp recordings in the rostral ventral tegmental area (rVTA) showed that both drugs are able to increase the firing rate of rVTA dopaminergic neurons in males but not in females, confirming the sex dimorphic effects of these two NPSs. Altogether, this study demonstrates that 3,4-MDPHP and 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA are unlikely to induce dependence in occasional users but can induce other effects at both central and peripheral levels that may significantly differ between males and females.
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Bagdas D, Kebede N, Zepei AM, Harris L, Minanov K, Picciotto MR, Addy NA. Animal Models to Investigate the Impact of Flavors on Nicotine Addiction and Dependence. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:2175-2201. [PMID: 35611777 PMCID: PMC9886843 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220524120231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tobacco use in humans is a long-standing public health concern. Flavors are common additives in tobacco and alternative tobacco products, added to mask nicotine's harsh orosensory effects and increase the appeal of these products. Animal models are integral for investigating nicotine use and addiction and are helpful for understanding the effects of flavor additives on the use of nicotine delivery products. OBJECTIVE This review focuses on preclinical models to evaluate the contribution of flavor additives to nicotine addiction. MATERIALS AND METHODS An electronic literature search was conducted by authors up to May 2022. Original articles were selected. RESULTS The behavioral models of rodents described here capture multiple dimensions of human flavored nicotine use behaviors, including advantages and disadvantages. CONCLUSION The consensus of the literature search was that human research on nicotine use behavior has not caught up with fast-changing product innovations, marketing practices, and federal regulations. Animal models are therefore needed to investigate mechanisms underlying nicotine use and addiction. This review provides a comprehensive overvie.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Bagdas
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nardos Kebede
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andy Ma Zepei
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lilley Harris
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Karina Minanov
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marina R. Picciotto
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nii A. Addy
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Marusich JA, Gay EA, Stewart DA, Blough BE. Sex differences in inflammatory cytokine levels following synthetic cathinone self-administration in rats. Neurotoxicology 2022; 88:65-78. [PMID: 34742947 PMCID: PMC8748414 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones are used as stimulants of abuse. Many abused drugs, including stimulants, activate nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription leading to increases in NF-κB-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the level of inflammation appears to correlate with length of abuse. The purpose of this study was to measure the profile of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, CCL2 and TNF-α in brain and plasma to examine if drug exposure alters inflammatory markers. Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) (0.1 mg/kg/infusion), 4-methylmethcathinone (4MMC) (0.5 mg/kg/infusion), or saline through autoshaping, and then self-administered for 21 days during 1 h (short access; ShA) or 6 h (long access; LgA) sessions. Separate rats were assigned to a naïve control group. Cytokine levels were examined in amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex, striatum, thalamus, and plasma. Rats acquired synthetic cathinone self-administration, and there were no sex differences in drug intake. Synthetic cathinone self-administration produced sex differences in IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, CCL2 and TNF-α levels. There were widespread increases in inflammatory cytokines in the brains of male rats compared to females, particularly for 4MMC, whereas females were more likely to show increased inflammatory cytokines in plasma compared to saline groups than males. Furthermore, these sex differences in cytokine levels were more common after LgA access to synthetic cathinones than ShA. These results suggest that synthetic cathinone use likely produces sex-selective patterns of neuroinflammation during the transition from use to abuse. Consequently, treatment need may differ depending on the progression of synthetic cathinone abuse and based on sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A. Marusich
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Elaine A. Gay
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Delisha A. Stewart
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Nutrition Research Institute, 500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Bruce E. Blough
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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10
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Khom S, Nguyen JD, Vandewater SA, Grant Y, Roberto M, Taffe MA. Self-Administration of Entactogen Psychostimulants Dysregulates Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and Kappa Opioid Receptor Signaling in the Central Nucleus of the Amygdala of Female Wistar Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:780500. [PMID: 34975428 PMCID: PMC8716434 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.780500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Male rats escalate intravenous self-administration of entactogen psychostimulants, 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) under extended access conditions, as with typical psychostimulants. Here, we investigated whether female rats escalate self-administration of methylone, 3,4-methylenedioxypentedrone (pentylone), and MDMA and then studied consequences of MDMA and pentylone self-administration on GABAA receptor and kappa opioid receptor (KOR) signaling in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), a brain area critically dysregulated by extended access self-administration of alcohol or cocaine. Adult female Wistar rats were trained to self-administer methylone, pentylone, MDMA (0.5 mg/kg/infusion), or saline-vehicle using a fixed-ratio 1 response contingency in 6-h sessions (long-access: LgA) followed by progressive ratio (PR) dose-response testing. The effects of pentylone-LgA, MDMA-LgA and saline on basal GABAergic transmission (miniature post-synaptic inhibitory currents, mIPSCs) and the modulatory role of KOR at CeA GABAergic synapses were determined in acute brain slices using whole-cell patch-clamp. Methylone-LgA and pentylone-LgA rats similarly escalated their drug intake (both obtained more infusions compared to MDMA-LgA rats), however, pentylone-LgA rats reached higher breakpoints in PR tests. At the cellular level, baseline CeA GABA transmission was markedly elevated in pentylone-LgA and MDMA-LgA rats compared to saline-vehicle. Specifically, pentylone-LgA was associated with increased CeA mIPSC frequency (GABA release) and amplitude (post-synaptic GABAA receptor function), while mIPSC amplitudes (but not frequency) was larger in MDMA-LgA rats compared to saline rats. In addition, pentylone-LgA and MDMA-LgA profoundly disrupted CeA KOR signaling such as both KOR agonism (1 mM U50488) and KOR antagonism (200 nM nor-binaltorphimine) decreased mIPSC frequency suggesting recruitment of non-canonical KOR signaling pathways. This study confirms escalated self-administration of entactogen psychostimulants under LgA conditions in female rats which is accompanied by increased CeA GABAergic inhibition and altered KOR signaling. Collectively, our study suggests that CeA GABA and KOR mechanisms play a critical role in entactogen self-administration like those observed with escalation of alcohol or cocaine self-administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Khom
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jacques D. Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Sophia A. Vandewater
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Yanabel Grant
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Michael A. Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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11
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Smith MA, Schmidt KT, Sharp JL, Pearson T, Davis AL, Gibson AN, Potter KM. Lack of evidence for positive reinforcing and prosocial effects of MDMA in pair-housed male and female rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 913:174646. [PMID: 34800468 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is classified as an entactogen, producing feelings of emotional openness and relatedness. One unique feature of MDMA is that people tend to selectively take this drug in social and/or intimate situations. Although MDMA is recognized as having abuse liability, preclinical studies report that it has weak reinforcing effects in animals. The objective of this study was to characterize the positive reinforcing and prosocial effects of MDMA in a translational model of the social environment in which two rats have simultaneous and contingent access to MDMA in close physical proximity. To this end, MDMA self-administration was examined on both fixed and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement in six groups of rats: (1) isolated males, (2) isolated females, (3) male-male dyads, (4) female-female dyads, (5) male-female dyads, and (6) female-male dyads. For pair-housed rats, data from both rats were analyzed. Next, social preferences were examined in a partner preference test. MDMA failed to produce positive reinforcing effects under all conditions examined. Across a 30-fold dose range (0.01-1.0 mg/kg/infusion), MDMA did not maintain higher responding than saline on both schedules of reinforcement and in all groups tested. In partner preference tests, a history of shared exposure to MDMA did not establish a social preference, and acute administration of MDMA failed to establish a preference for another MDMA-treated rat. These data suggest that social contact does not increase the positive reinforcing effects of MDMA in rats, and that neither contingent nor noncontingent MDMA administration establishes a social preference in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Smith
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA.
| | - Karl T Schmidt
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA
| | - Jessica L Sharp
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA
| | - Tallia Pearson
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA
| | - Anna L Davis
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA
| | - Abigail N Gibson
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA
| | - Kenzie M Potter
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, USA
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12
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Danda H, Pinterová-Leca N, Šíchová K, Štefková-Mazochová K, Syrová K, Olejníková L, Končická M, Mazoch V, Lhotková E, Kuchař M, Páleníček T. Effects of synthetic cathinone naphyrone in the conditioned place preference test - evidence of its addictive potential. Behav Brain Res 2021; 421:113713. [PMID: 34906607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Naphyrone, also known as NRG-1, is a novel psychoactive substance (NPS), a cathinone with stimulatory properties available on the grey/illicit drug market for almost a decade. It is structurally related to infamously known powerful stimulants with the pyrovalerone structure, such as alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) or methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) that are labeled as a cheap replacement for cocaine and other stimulants. Despite the known addictive potential of α-PVP and MDPV, there are no studies directly evaluating naphyrone's addictive potential e.g., in conditioned place preference (CPP) test or using self-administration. Therefore, our study was designed to evaluate the addictive potential in a CPP test in male Wistar rats and compare its effect to another powerful stimulant with a high addictive potential - methamphetamine. Naphyrone increased time spent in the drug-paired compartment with 5 and 20mg/kg s.c. being significant and 10mg/kg s.c. reaching the threshold (p = 0.07); the effect was comparable to that of methamphetamine 1.5mg/kg s.c. The lowest dose, naphyrone 1mg/kg s.c., had no effect on CPP. Interestingly, no dose response effect was detected. Based on these data, we are able to conclude that naphyrone has an addictive potential and may possess a significant risk to users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hynek Danda
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic; 3(rd) Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, Prague 10, 100 00, Czech Republic
| | - Nikola Pinterová-Leca
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic; 3(rd) Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, Prague 10, 100 00, Czech Republic
| | - Klára Šíchová
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Štefková-Mazochová
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Syrová
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic; 3(rd) Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, Prague 10, 100 00, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Olejníková
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Končická
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Mazoch
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Lhotková
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kuchař
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic; Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Compounds, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, Prague 6, 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Páleníček
- Department of Experimental Neurobiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, Klecany, 250 67, Czech Republic; 3(rd) Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, Prague 10, 100 00, Czech Republic.
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13
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Nelson KH, Manke HN, Bailey JM, Vlachos A, Maradiaga KJ, Huang S, Weiss TD, Rice KC, Riley AL. Ethanol pre-exposure differentially impacts the rewarding and aversive effects of α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP): Implications for drug use and abuse. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 211:173286. [PMID: 34634300 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Exposure to a drug can subsequently impact its own reactivity as well as that of other drugs. Given that users of synthetic cathinones, i.e., "bath salts", typically have extensive and varied drug histories, an understanding of the effects of drug history on the behavioral and physiological consequences of synthetic cathiones may be important to their abuse liability. OBJECTIVES The goal of the current work was to assess the effects of an ethanol pre-exposure on the rewarding and aversive effects of α-PVP. METHODS Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to ethanol prior to combined conditioned taste avoidance/conditioned place preference training in which rats were injected with 1.5, 3 or 5 mg/kg of racemic α-PVP or vehicle. Following a 7-day washout period, rats were then tested for thermoregulatory effects of α-PVP using subcutaneous probes to measure body temperature changes over the course of 8 h. This was followed 10 days later by assessments for α-PVP-induced locomotor activity and stereotypies over a 1-h session. RESULTS α-PVP induced significant dose- and trial-dependent taste avoidance that was significantly attenuated by ethanol history and dose- and time-dependent increases in locomotor activity that were significantly increased by ethanol. α-PVP also induced place preferences and dose- and time-dependent increases in body temperature, but these measures were unaffected by ethanol history. CONCLUSIONS α-PVP's aversive effects (as measured by taste avoidance) were attenuated, while its rewarding effects (as indexed by place preference conditioning) were unaffected, by ethanol pre-exposure. Such a pattern may indicate increased α-PVP abuse liability, as changes in the balance of aversion and reward may impact overall drug effects and likelihood of drug intake. Future self-administration studies will be necessary to explore this possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine H Nelson
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, USA.
| | - Hayley N Manke
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, USA
| | - Jacob M Bailey
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, USA
| | - Anna Vlachos
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, USA
| | - Karina J Maradiaga
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, USA
| | - Shihui Huang
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, USA
| | - Tania D Weiss
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, USA
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anthony L Riley
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, D. C. 20016, USA.
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14
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Soares J, Costa VM, Bastos MDL, Carvalho F, Capela JP. An updated review on synthetic cathinones. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:2895-2940. [PMID: 34100120 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03083-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cathinone, the main psychoactive compound found in the plant Catha edulis Forsk. (khat), is a β-keto analogue of amphetamine, sharing not only the phenethylamine structure, but also the amphetamine-like stimulant effects. Synthetic cathinones are derivatives of the naturally occurring cathinone that largely entered the recreational drug market at the end of 2000s. The former "legal status", impressive marketing strategies and their commercial availability, either in the so-called "smartshops" or via the Internet, prompted their large spread, contributing to their increasing popularity in the following years. As their popularity increased, the risks posed for public health became clear, with several reports of intoxications and deaths involving these substances appearing both in the social media and scientific literature. The regulatory measures introduced thereafter to halt these trending drugs of abuse have proved to be of low impact, as a continuous emergence of new non-controlled derivatives keep appearing to replace those prohibited. Users resort to synthetic cathinones due to their psychostimulant properties but are often unaware of the dangers they may incur when using these substances. Therefore, studies aimed at unveiling the pharmacological and toxicological properties of these substances are imperative, as they will provide increased expertise to the clinicians that face this problem on a daily basis. The present work provides a comprehensive review on history and legal status, chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse effects and lethality in humans, as well as on the current knowledge of the neurotoxic mechanisms of synthetic cathinones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Soares
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Vera Marisa Costa
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria de Lourdes Bastos
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Félix Carvalho
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Capela
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- FP-ENAS (Fernando Pessoa Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit), CEBIMED (Biomedical Research Centre), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal.
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15
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Wronikowska O, Zykubek M, Michalak A, Pankowska A, Kozioł P, Boguszewska-Czubara A, Kurach Ł, Łazorczyk A, Kochalska K, Talarek S, Słowik T, Pietura R, Kurzepa J, Budzyńska B. Insight into Glutamatergic Involvement in Rewarding Effects of Mephedrone in Rats: In Vivo and Ex Vivo Study. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:4413-4424. [PMID: 34021482 PMCID: PMC8487417 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02404-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Mephedrone is a widely used drug of abuse, exerting its effects by interacting with monoamine transporters. Although this mechanism has been widely studied heretofore, little is known about the involvement of glutamatergic transmission in mephedrone effects. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated glutamatergic involvement in rewarding effects of mephedrone using an interdisciplinary approach including (1) behavioural study on effects of memantine (non-selective NMDA antagonist) on expression of mephedrone-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats; (2) evaluation of glutamate concentrations in the hippocampus of rats following 6 days of mephedrone administration, using in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS); and (3) determination of glutamate levels in the hippocampus of rats treated with mephedrone and subjected to MRS, using ion-exchange chromatography. In the presented research, we confirmed priorly reported mephedrone-induced rewarding effects in the CPP paradigm and showed that memantine (5 mg/kg) was able to reverse the expression of this effect. MRS study showed that subchronic mephedrone administration increased glutamate level in the hippocampus when measured in vivo 24 h (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) and 2 weeks (5 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) after last injection. Ex vivo chromatographic analysis did not show significant changes in hippocampal glutamate concentrations; however, it showed similar results as obtained in the MRS study proving its validity. Taken together, the presented study provides new insight into glutamatergic involvement in rewarding properties of mephedrone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Wronikowska
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland.,Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Maria Zykubek
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Michalak
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Pankowska
- Department of Radiography, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16 Street, 20-081, Lublin, Poland
| | - Paulina Kozioł
- Department of Radiography, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16 Street, 20-081, Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Boguszewska-Czubara
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kurach
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Artur Łazorczyk
- Department of Radiography, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16 Street, 20-081, Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kochalska
- Department of Radiography, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16 Street, 20-081, Lublin, Poland
| | - Sylwia Talarek
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Tymoteusz Słowik
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 Street, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Radosław Pietura
- Department of Radiography, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16 Street, 20-081, Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kurzepa
- I Department of Medical Radiology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 Street, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Barbara Budzyńska
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093, Lublin, Poland.
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16
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Wakeford AGP, Sherwood AM, Prisinzano TE, Bergman J, Kohut SJ, Paronis CA. Discriminative-Stimulus Effects of Synthetic Cathinones in Squirrel Monkeys. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 24:656-665. [PMID: 33909067 PMCID: PMC8378080 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synthetic cathinones display overlapping behavioral effects with psychostimulants (e.g., methamphetamine [MA]) and/or entactogens (e.g., 3,4-methylenedioxymethaphetamine [MDMA])-presumably reflecting their dopaminergic and/or serotonergic activity. The discriminative stimulus effects of MDMA thought to be mediated by such activity have been well characterized in rodents but have not been fully examined in nonhuman primates. METHODS The present studies were conducted to systematically evaluate the discriminative stimulus effects of 5 abused synthetic cathinones (methylenedioxypyrovalerone [MDPV], α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone [α-PVP], methcathinone [MCAT], mephedrone, and methylone) in adult male squirrel monkeys trained to distinguish intramuscular injections of MA (0.1 mg/kg; n = 4) or MDMA (0.6 mg/kg; n = 4) from vehicle. RESULTS Each training drug produced dose-dependent effects and, at the highest dose, full substitution. MDMA produced predominantly vehicle-like responding in the MA-trained group, whereas the highest dose of MA (0.56 mg/kg) produced partial substitution (approximately 90% appropriate lever responding in one-half of the subjects) in the MDMA-trained group. MDPV, α-PVP, and MCAT produced full substitution in MA-trained subjects, but, at the same or higher doses, only substituted for MDMA in one-half of the subjects, consistent with primarily dopaminergically mediated interoceptive effects. In contrast, mephedrone and methylone fully substituted in MDMA-trained subjects but failed to fully substitute for the training drug in MA-trained subjects, suggesting a primary role for serotonergic actions in their interoceptive effects. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that differences in the interoceptive effects of synthetic cathinones in nonhuman primates reflect differing compositions of monoaminergic actions that also may mediate their subjective effects in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison G P Wakeford
- McLean Hospital, Behavioral Biology Program, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA,Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Correspondence: Alison G. P. Wakeford, PhD, Behavioral Biology Program, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA ()
| | - Alexander M Sherwood
- College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA,Usona Institute, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Jack Bergman
- McLean Hospital, Behavioral Biology Program, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA,Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephen J Kohut
- McLean Hospital, Behavioral Biology Program, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA,Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carol A Paronis
- McLean Hospital, Behavioral Biology Program, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA,Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Marusich JA, Gay EA, Watson SL, Blough BE. Alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone and mephedrone self-administration produce differential neurochemical changes following short- or long-access conditions in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 897:173935. [PMID: 33577836 PMCID: PMC7965342 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.173935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Stimulant-induced neurochemical changes may occur at different times for different brain regions or neurotransmitter systems. This study sought to examine the behavioral and neurochemical effects of extended access to α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) and 4-methylmethcathinone (4MMC). Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer α-PVP (0.1 mg/kg/infusion) or 4MMC (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) through autoshaping, and then self-administered for 21 days during 1 h (short access; ShA) or 6 h (long access; LgA) sessions. Separate rats were assigned to a naïve control group. Amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), striatum, and thalamus were extracted, and tissue was analyzed with electrochemical detection and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Rats acquired self-administration of α-PVP and 4MMC, and LgA rats showed more escalation of self-administration than ShA rats. Synthetic cathinone administration produced several effects on neurotransmitters. LgA self-administration of α-PVP increased 5-HIAA levels in all brain regions, compared to control. In contrast, both LgA and ShA 4MMC self-administration decreased 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels in most brain regions. LgA exposure to both synthetic cathinones increased DOPAC levels in hypothalamus and striatum, and increased HVA levels in striatum compared to control. LgA self-administration of either synthetic cathinone produced region-specific increases in NE levels, whereas ShA self-administration lowered NE levels in select locations compared to control. These alterations in neurotransmitter levels indicate that synthetic cathinone use may produce differential neurochemical changes during the transition from use to abuse, and that 21 days of self-administration only models the beginning stages of dysregulated drug intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Marusich
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Elaine A Gay
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Scott L Watson
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Bruce E Blough
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
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Schenk S, Highgate Q. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA): Serotonergic and dopaminergic mechanisms related to its use and misuse. J Neurochem 2021; 157:1714-1724. [PMID: 33711169 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an amphetamine analogue that preferentially stimulates the release of serotonin (5HT) and results in relatively small increases in synaptic dopamine (DA). The ratio of drug-stimulated increases in synaptic DA, relative to 5HT, predicts the abuse liability; drugs with higher DA:5HT ratios are more likely to be abused. Nonetheless, MDMA is a drug that is misused. Clinical and preclinical studies have suggested that repeated MDMA exposure produces neuroadaptive responses in both 5HT and DA neurotransmission that might explain the development and maintenance of MDMA self-administration in some laboratory animals and the development of a substance use disorder in some humans. In this paper, we describe the research that has demonstrated an inhibitory effect of 5HT on the acquisition of MDMA self-administration and the critical role of DA in the maintenance of MDMA self-administration in laboratory animals. We then describe the circuitry and 5HT receptors that are positioned to modulate DA activity and review the limited research on the effects of MDMA exposure on these receptor mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Schenk
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Quenten Highgate
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Doyle MR, Sulima A, Rice KC, Collins GT. MDPV self-administration in female rats: influence of reinforcement history. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:735-744. [PMID: 33236170 PMCID: PMC7914194 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05726-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE A subset of male rats that self-administer 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) have unusually high levels of drug intake; however, factor(s) that influence this behavior (e.g., reinforcement history and sex) are unknown. OBJECTIVES Characterize the reinforcing potency and effectiveness of MDPV in female rats to determine whether (1) a subset of females also develop high levels of MDPV self-administration (i.e., a high-responder phenotype) and (2) the degree to which the high-responder phenotype is influenced by various reinforcement histories (i.e., responding for cocaine or food). METHODS Female Sprague Dawley rats initially responded for MDPV (0.032 mg/kg/infusion), cocaine (0.32 mg/kg/infusion), or food (45-mg grain pellet) under fixed ratio (FR) 1 and FR5 schedules of reinforcement. After 20 sessions, the cocaine- and food-history rats responded for MDPV for 20 additional sessions. Dose-response curves for MDPV were generated under FR5 and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement. RESULTS A subset of rats responding for MDPV developed high levels of MDPV intake. A history of responding for cocaine, but not food, inhibited the development of high levels of MDPV intake. Large individual differences were observed in the level of self-administration when MDPV was available under an FR5, but not PR, schedule of reinforcement. CONCLUSIONS MDPV functions as a powerful reinforcer in female rats, as has been previously reported in male rats. The substantial variability in MDPV self-administration between subjects may be related to individual differences in human drug-taking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle R Doyle
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr - MC 7764, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Agnieszka Sulima
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gregory T Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr - MC 7764, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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de Moura FB, Sherwood A, Prisinzano TE, Paronis CA, Bergman J, Kohut SJ. Reinforcing effects of synthetic cathinones in rhesus monkeys: Dose-response and behavioral economic analyses. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 202:173112. [PMID: 33444603 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The abuse of synthetic cathinones ("bath salts") with psychomotor stimulant and/or entactogenic properties emerged as a public health concern when they were introduced as "legal" alternatives to drugs of abuse such as cocaine or MDMA. In this study, experiments were conducted in nonhuman primates to examine how differences in transporter selectivity might impact the reinforcing effects of synthetic cathinones. Rhesus monkeys (N = 5) were trained to respond for intravenous injections under a fixed-ratio (FR) 30, timeout 60-s schedule of reinforcement. The reinforcing effects of selected cathinones (e.g., MDPV, αPVP, MCAT, and methylone) with a range of pharmacological effects at dopamine and serotonin transporters were compared to cocaine and MDMA using dose-response analysis under a simple FR schedule and behavioral economic procedures that generated demand curves for two doses of each drug. Results show that one or more doses of all drugs were readily self-administered in each subject and, excepting MDMA (21 injections/session), peak levels of self-administration were similar across drugs (between 30 and 40 injections/session). Demand elasticity for the peak and the peak + 1/2-log dose of each drug did not significantly differ, and when data for the two doses were averaged for each drug, the following rank-order of reinforcing strength emerged: cocaine > MCAT = MDPV = methylone > αPVP = MDMA. These results indicate that the reinforcing strength of synthetic cathinones are not related to their selectivity in binding dopamine or serotonin transporter sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando B de Moura
- Behavioral Biology Program, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Thomas E Prisinzano
- College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 789 S. Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Carol A Paronis
- Behavioral Biology Program, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jack Bergman
- Behavioral Biology Program, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Stephen J Kohut
- Behavioral Biology Program, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Vulnerability factors for mephedrone-induced conditioned place preference in rats-the impact of sex differences, social-conditioning and stress. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2947-2961. [PMID: 34268586 PMCID: PMC8455394 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05910-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Mephedrone is a frequently overused drug of abuse that belongs to the group of novel psychoactive substances. Although its mechanism of action, as well as toxic and psychoactive effects, has been widely studied, the role of different factors that could contribute to the increased vulnerability to mephedrone abuse is still poorly understood. OBJECTIVES The aim of the presented study was to assess the impact of several factors (sex differences, social-conditioning, and chronic mild unpredictable stress - CMUS) on the liability to mephedrone-induced reward in Wistar rats. METHODS The rewarding effects of mephedrone in male and female rats were assessed using the conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure. Furthermore, the impact of social factor and stress was evaluated in male rats using social-CPP and CMUS-dependent CPP, respectively. RESULTS Mephedrone induced classic-CPP in female (10 mg/kg), as well as in male (10 and 20 mg/kg) rats. However, the impact of mephedrone treatment during social-CPP was highly dose-dependent as the rewarding effects of low dose of mephedrone (5 mg/kg; non-active in classic-CPP) were potentiated when administered during social-conditioning. Interestingly, social-conditioning with a higher dose of 20 mg/kg (that induced classic-CPP) was able to reverse these effects. Finally, CMUS potentiated rewarding effects of a low dose of mephedrone (5 mg/kg) and increased the level of corticosterone in rats' prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, the presented results give new insight into possible factors underlying the vulnerability to mephedrone abuse and can serve as a basis for further studies assessing mechanisms underlying observed effects.
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Assessment of aversive effects of methylone in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats: Conditioned taste avoidance, body temperature and activity/stereotypies. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 86:106977. [PMID: 33831534 PMCID: PMC9924097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.106977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Methylone's rewarding effects have been well characterized; however, little is known about its aversive effects and how such effects may be impacted by sex. In this context, the present study investigated the aversive effects of methylone (vehicle, 5.6, 10 or 18 mg/kg, IP) in 35 male and 31 female Sprague-Dawley rats assessed by conditioned taste avoidance and changes in body temperature and activity/stereotypies. Methylone induced significant taste avoidance, changes in temperature and increased activity and stereotypies in both males and females. Similar to work with other synthetic cathinones, methylone has aversive effects as indexed by significant taste avoidance and changes in temperature and activity (two characteristics of methylone overdose in humans). The only endpoint for which there were significant sex differences was in general activity with males displaying a faster onset and females displaying a longer duration. Although sex was not a factor with taste avoidance and temperature, separate analyses for males and females revealed different patterns, e.g., males displayed a more rapid acquisition of taste avoidance and females displayed changes in temperature at lower doses. Males displayed a faster onset and females displayed a longer duration of activity (consistent with the analyses considering sex as a factor), while time- and dose-dependent stereotypies did not show consistent pattern differences. Although sex differences were relatively limited when sex was specifically assessed as a factor (or only evident when sex comparisons were made in the patterns of effects), sex as a biological variable in the study of drugs should be made to determine if differences exist and, if evident, the basis for these differences.
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Gutierrez A, Nguyen JD, Creehan KM, Taffe MA. Female rats self-administer heroin by vapor inhalation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2020; 199:173061. [PMID: 33164848 PMCID: PMC7725943 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2020.173061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Over the last two decades the United States has experienced a significant increase in the medical and non-medical use of opioid drugs, resulting in record numbers of opioid-related overdoses and deaths. There was an initial increase in non-medical use of prescription opioids around 2002, followed later by increased heroin use and then most recently fentanyl. Inhalation is a common route of administration for opioids, with a documented history spanning back to Mediterranean antiquity and up through modern use with e-cigarette devices. Unfortunately, preclinical studies using inhalation as the route of administration remain relatively few. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of e-cigarette vapor inhalation of heroin in rats. Non-contingent exposure to heroin or methadone vapor produced anti-nociceptive efficacy in male and female rats. Female rats were trained to self-administer heroin vapor; the most-preferring half of the distribution obtained more vapor reinforcers when the concentration of heroin was reduced in the vapor vehicle and when pre-treated with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. The anti-nociceptive effect of heroin self-administered by vapor was identical in magnitude to that produced by intravenous self-administration. Finally, anxiety-like behavior increased 24-48 h after last heroin vapor access, consistent with withdrawal signs observed after intravenous self-administration. In sum, these studies show that rewarding and anti-nociceptive effects of heroin are produced in rats by vapor inhalation using e-cigarette technology. Importantly, self-administration models by this route can be deployed to determine health effects of inhaled heroin or other opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold Gutierrez
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jacques D Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kevin M Creehan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Combined effects of mephedrone and cocaine on locomotor activity and conditioned place preference in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Behav Pharmacol 2020; 31:368-377. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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25
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Synthetic cathinones – From natural plant stimulant to new drug of abuse. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 875:173012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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26
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25C-NBF, a new psychoactive substance, has addictive and neurotoxic potential in rodents. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:2505-2516. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02740-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Locomotor sensitization in male Sprague-Dawley rats following repeated concurrent treatment with 4-methylmethcathinone and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Behav Pharmacol 2020; 30:566-573. [PMID: 31268871 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Recreational abuse of illicit synthetic cathinones is an ongoing public health concern. Recent studies indicate that the methcathinone derivative 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) produces behavioral and neurochemical effects similar to the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Whereas polysubstance abuse is common, most preclinical studies of drug abuse liability only evaluate the effects of single drugs. Utilizing the locomotor sensitization paradigm, the present study assessed the combined locomotor stimulant effects of 4-MMC and MDMA for induction of sensitization following repeated administration and for expression of sensitization to a challenge dose of either substance alone after a 10-day period of drug abstinence. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received once daily intraperitoneal injections of saline, 4-MMC (1.0 mg/kg or 5.0 mg/kg), MDMA (3.0 mg/kg), or a mixture containing 4-MMC (1.0 mg/kg or 5.0 mg/kg) + MDMA (3.0 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. Following a 10-day drug-free period, rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of either saline, 4-MMC (1.0 or 5.0 mg/kg), or 3.0 mg/kg MDMA. Activity was recorded for 1 h immediately before and 1 h immediately after injections on days 1, 7, and 17. 4-MMC treatment failed to induce locomotor sensitization, but, when combined with MDMA, sensitization was induced to a greater extent than with MDMA alone. Furthermore, the expression of sensitization to a subsequent challenge dose of MDMA was observed only in animals previously exposed to MDMA or a 5.0 mg/kg 4-MMC + MDMA mixture. In consideration of these findings along with the fact that 4-MMC has similar neurochemical actions to MDMA, further research may be warranted to determine the abuse liability of drug mixtures including 4-MMC and MDMA.
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Riley AL, Nelson KH, To P, López-Arnau R, Xu P, Wang D, Wang Y, Shen HW, Kuhn DM, Angoa-Perez M, Anneken JH, Muskiewicz D, Hall FS. Abuse potential and toxicity of the synthetic cathinones (i.e., “Bath salts”). Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 110:150-173. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Mead J, Parrott A. Mephedrone and MDMA: A comparative review. Brain Res 2020; 1735:146740. [PMID: 32087112 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Mephedrone and MDMA are both constituents of party drugs, with mephedrone being relatively new compared to MDMA. This review compares current knowledge regarding the patterns of usage and neuropsychobiological effects of both mephedrone and MDMA. Both drugs share common psychoactive effects, the duration of which is significantly shorter with mephedrone use, attributing towards a pattern of binge use among users. Both drugs have also been associated with adverse health, psychiatric, and neurocognitive problems. Whilst there is extensive research into the psychobiological problems induced by MDMA, the evidence for mephedrone is comparatively limited. The adverse effect profile of mephedrone appears to be less severe than that of MDMA. Users often believe it to be safer, although both drugs have been associated with overdoses. The neurotoxic potential of mephedrone appears to be low, whereas MDMA can cause long-term damage to the serotonergic system, although this needs further investigation. The abuse liability of mephedrone is significantly greater than that of MDMA, raising concerns regarding the impact of lifetime usage on users. Given that mephedrone is relatively new, the effects of long-term exposure are yet to be documented. Future research focused on lifetime users may highlight more severe neuropsychobiological effects from the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Mead
- Department of Psychology, School of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew Parrott
- Department of Psychology, School of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom
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Marusich JA, Gay EA, Watson SL, Blough BE. Synthetic cathinone self-administration in female rats modulates neurotransmitter levels in addiction-related brain regions. Behav Brain Res 2019; 376:112211. [PMID: 31493431 PMCID: PMC6783379 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones are used for their stimulant-like properties. Stimulant-induced neurochemical changes are thought to occur at different times in different brain regions and neurotransmitter systems. This study sought to examine the behavioral and neurochemical effects of α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) and mephedrone (4MMC) in female rats. Methods probed the chronology of effects of synthetic cathinone exposure. Female rats were trained to self-administer α-PVP, 4MMC, or saline. Drug exposure ceased after 7 days of autoshaping for half of each drug group; the other half self-administered for another 21 days. Amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, PFC, striatum, and thalamus were extracted, and tissue was analyzed with electrochemical detection and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Responding was minimal during autoshaping; thus, most infusions were delivered noncontingently in the autoshaping phase. Rats acquired self-administration of α-PVP and 4MMC. Synthetic cathinone administration, and duration of exposure produced several effects on neurotransmitters. α-PVP primarily increased serotonin, 5-hydroxy-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), norepinephrine, and glutamate in hypothalamus. In contrast, 4MMC decreased serotonin and 5-HIAA in several brain regions. Longer durations of exposure to both synthetic cathinones increased 5-HIAA, norepinephrine, and glutamate in multiple brain regions compared to the short exposure during autoshaping. Notably, both α-PVP and 4MMC produced minimal changes in dopamine levels, suggesting that the dopaminergic effects of these synthetic cathinones are transient. These alterations in neurotransmitter levels indicate that synthetic cathinone use may produce differential neurochemical changes during the transition from use to abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Marusich
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Elaine A Gay
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Scott L Watson
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Bruce E Blough
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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Nguyen JD, Creehan KM, Kerr TM, Taffe MA. Lasting effects of repeated ∆ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol vapour inhalation during adolescence in male and female rats. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 177:188-203. [PMID: 31478558 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Adolescents are regularly exposed to ∆9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) via smoking and, more recently, vaping cannabis extracts. Growing legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes, combined with decreasing perceptions of harm, makes it increasingly important to determine the consequences of frequent adolescent exposure for motivated behaviour and lasting tolerance in response to THC. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES Male and female rats inhaled THC vapour, or that from the propylene glycol (PG) vehicle, twice daily for 30 min from postnatal day (PND) 35-39 and PND 42-46 using an e-cigarette system. Thermoregulatory responses to vapour inhalation were assessed by radio-telemetry during adolescence and from PND 86-94. Chow intake was assessed in adulthood. Blood samples were obtained from additional adolescent groups following initial THC inhalation and after 4 days of twice daily exposure. Additional groups exposed repeatedly to THC or PG during adolescence were evaluated for intravenous self-administration of oxycodone as adults. KEY RESULTS Female, not male, adolescents developed tolerance to the hypothermic effects of THC inhalation in the first week of repeated exposure despite similar plasma THC levels. Each sex exhibited tolerance to THC hypothermia in adulthood after repeated adolescent THC. However, enhanced potency was found in females. Repeated THC male rats consumed more food than their PG-treated control group, without significant bodyweight differences. Adolescent THC did not alter oxycodone self-administration in either sex but increased fentanyl self-administration in females. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Repeated THC vapour inhalation in adolescent rats has lasting consequences observable in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques D Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Kevin M Creehan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Tony M Kerr
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Michael A Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California.,Department of Psychiatry, University of California, La Jolla, California
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Abiero A, Ryu IS, Botanas CJ, Custodio RJP, Sayson LV, Kim M, Lee HJ, Kim HJ, Seo JW, Cho MC, Lee KW, Yoo SY, Jang CG, Lee YS, Cheong JH. Four Novel Synthetic Tryptamine Analogs Induce Head-Twitch Responses and Increase 5-HTR2a in the Prefrontal Cortex in Mice. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2019; 28:83-91. [PMID: 31230432 PMCID: PMC6939696 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2019.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptamines are monoamine alkaloids with hallucinogenic properties and are widely abused worldwide. To hasten the regulations of novel substances and predict their abuse potential, we designed and synthesized four novel synthetic tryptamine analogs: Pyrrolidino tryptamine hydrochloride (PYT HCl), Piperidino tryptamine hydrochloride (PIT HCl), N,N-dibutyl tryptamine hydrochloride (DBT HCl), and 2-Methyl tryptamine hydrochloride (2-MT HCl). Then, we evaluated their rewarding and reinforcing effects using the conditioned place preference (CPP) and self-administration (SA) paradigms. We conducted an open field test (OFT) to determine the effects of the novel compounds on locomotor activity. A head-twitch response (HTR) was also performed to characterize their hallucinogenic properties. Lastly, we examined the effects of the compounds on 5-HTR1a and 5-HTR2a in the prefrontal cortex using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. None of the compounds induced CPP in mice or initiated SA in rats. PYT HCl and PIT HCl reduced the locomotor activity and elevated the 5-HTR1a mRNA levels in mice. Acute and repeated treatment with the novel tryptamines elicited HTR in mice. Furthermore, a drug challenge involving a 7-day abstinence from drug use produced higher HTR than acute and repeated treatments. Both the acute treatment and drug challenge increased the 5-HTR2a mRNA levels. Ketanserin blocked the induced HTR. Taken together, the findings suggest that PYT HCl, PIT HCl, DBT HCl, and 2-MT HCl produce hallucinogenic effects via 5-HTR2a stimulation, but may have low abuse potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvie Abiero
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - In Soo Ryu
- Center for Safety Pharmacology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Chrislean Jun Botanas
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Raly James Perez Custodio
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Leandro Val Sayson
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Mikyung Kim
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jun Lee
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
| | - Joung-Wook Seo
- Center for Safety Pharmacology, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Chang Cho
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy & Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Kun Won Lee
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy & Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Yeun Yoo
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy & Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Choon-Gon Jang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Sup Lee
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy & Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Cheong
- Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Republic of Korea
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Marusich JA, Gay EA, Blough BE. Analysis of neurotransmitter levels in addiction-related brain regions during synthetic cathinone self-administration in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:903-914. [PMID: 30191259 PMCID: PMC6401347 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5011-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Synthetic cathinones are used as stimulants of abuse. Different stimulants may induce distinct rates of disease progression, yielding neurochemical changes that may vary across brain regions or neurotransmitter systems. OBJECTIVES This research sought to behaviorally and chemically differentiate stages of synthetic cathinone abuse through rodent self-administration and measurement of the neurotransmitter profile in multiple brain regions. METHODS Male rats were trained to self-administer α-PVP, mephedrone (4MMC), or saline. Half of each drug group stopped self-administering after autoshaping; the other half self-administered for another 21 days. Brain tissue from amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, PFC, striatum, and thalamus was profiled with electrochemical detection to assess neurotransmitter levels. RESULTS During autoshaping, the majority of infusions were delivered noncontingently. In the self-administration phase, rats responded more for α-PVP and 4MMC than for saline, demonstrating that both synthetic cathinones were reinforcing. Longer durations of exposure elevated 5-HIAA in hypothalamus, PFC, and hippocampus, indicating that learning may produce changes in addiction-related brain regions. Both synthetic cathinones decreased norepinephrine in hippocampus, while α-PVP decreased glutamate in hippocampus and PFC, and 4MMC decreased glutamate in thalamus. Furthermore, α-PVP increased dopaminergic metabolites in striatum, whereas 4MMC decreased serotonin in the amygdala, hippocampus, and PFC. Interestingly, neither synthetic cathinone affected dopamine levels despite their functional effects on the dopaminergic system. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the neurotransmitter changes observed here suggest that synthetic cathinone use likely produces sequential neurochemical changes during the transition from use to abuse. Consequently, treatment need may differ depending on the progression of synthetic cathinone abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Marusich
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, 136 Hermann, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Elaine A Gay
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, 136 Hermann, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Bruce E Blough
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd, 136 Hermann, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
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Saber I, Milewski A, Reitz AB, Rawls SM, Walker EA. Effects of dopaminergic and serotonergic compounds in rats trained to discriminate a high and a low training dose of the synthetic cathinone mephedrone. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:1015-1029. [PMID: 30980094 PMCID: PMC6589396 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05241-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The underlying pharmacological mechanisms of mephedrone, especially as related to interactions with different neurotransmitter systems, are a critical area of study as mephedrone continues to be abused. OBJECTIVE Direct-acting 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonists and antagonists and D1-3 receptor antagonists were examined in two groups of rats trained to discriminate mephedrone. A high dose of mephedrone was trained to extend previous results with traditional monoamine transporter inhibitors and substrate releasers. A very low dose of mephedrone was trained to preferentially capture serotonergic activity and to minimize the influence of rate-decreasing effects on substitution patterns. Selective 5-HT2A/2C and D1-3 receptor antagonists were examined in both groups. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate either a low dose of 0.5 mg/kg mephedrone (N = 24) or a high dose of 3.2 mg/kg mephedrone (N = 11) from saline. RESULTS In the low training-dose group, mephedrone, MDMA, methamphetamine, d-amphetamine, cocaine, and enantiomers of mephedrone substituted for mephedrone; mCPP partially substituted overall for mephedrone; and DOI, WAY163909, and morphine failed to substitute for mephedrone. In the high training-dose group, only mephedrone and MDMA substituted for mephedrone. Sulpiride produced a small antagonism of the low training dose of mephedrone while SCH23390, SB242084, and ketanserin altered response rates. CONCLUSIONS A lower training dose of mephedrone produces a discriminative stimulus fully mimicked by MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, and d-amphetamine, whereas a higher training dose of mephedrone requires a discriminative stimulus that was only mimicked by MDMA. Dopaminergic or serotoninergic antagonists failed to produce significant blockade of mephedrone at either training dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Saber
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew Milewski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Scott M. Rawls
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, and Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Department of Pharmacology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ellen A. Walker
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,Center for Substance Abuse Research, and Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Behavioral economic analysis of the reinforcing effects of "bath salts" mixtures: studies with MDPV, methylone, and caffeine in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:1031-1041. [PMID: 30267131 PMCID: PMC6440875 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5046-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE "Bath salts" preparations often contain combinations of synthetic cathinones (e.g., 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone [methylone], 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone [MDPV]), and caffeine, and evidence suggests that mixtures of synthetic cathinones and caffeine (e.g., MDPV + caffeine or methylone + caffeine) can be more potent and/or effective reinforcers than predicted for an additive interaction. OBJECTIVE To use demand curve analyses to compare the reinforcing effectiveness of MDPV and methylone to mixtures of MDPV + caffeine and methylone + caffeine. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats acquired methylone self-administration (0.32 mg/kg/inf) under a fixed ratio (FR) 1 schedule of reinforcement and generated full dose-response curves for methylone (0.01-1 mg/kg/inf) under an FR5 schedule of reinforcement. Demand curves were then obtained for methylone, MDPV, caffeine, and methylone + caffeine and MDPV + caffeine mixtures by increasing the FR across sessions according to the following series: 3, 10, 18, 32, 56, 100, 178, etc. RESULTS: Self-administration of methylone was rapidly acquired by 87.5% of rats and was maintained across a range of doses, producing an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve. Rank order demand for the individual constituents was MDPV > methylone > caffeine. Demand for the 3:1 (but not 10:1) methylone + caffeine mixture was greater than that for methylone alone, and demand for MDPV alone was similar to both MDPV + caffeine mixtures evaluated. CONCLUSIONS These studies provide additional evidence that although methylone is an effective reinforcer, combining methylone with caffeine results in an enhanced reinforcing effectiveness compared to methylone alone. Thus, abused "bath salts" preparations containing synthetic cathinones and caffeine may have higher abuse liability than preparations containing only synthetic cathinones.
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The synthetic cathinones, butylone and pentylone, are stimulants that act as dopamine transporter blockers but 5-HT transporter substrates. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:953-962. [PMID: 30345459 PMCID: PMC6476708 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5075-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Synthetic cathinones continue to emerge in recreational drug markets worldwide. 1-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(methylamino)butan-1-one (butylone) and 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(methylamino)pentan-1-one (pentylone) are derivatives of the cathinone compound, 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(methylamino)propan-1-one (methylone), that are being detected in drug products and human casework. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present study was to examine the neuropharmacology of butylone and pentylone using in vitro and in vivo methods. METHODS In vitro uptake and release assays were carried out in rat brain synaptosomes and in cells expressing human dopamine transporters (DAT) and 5-HT transporters (SERT). In vivo microdialysis was performed in the nucleus accumbens of conscious rats to assess drug-induced changes in neurochemistry. RESULTS Butylone and pentylone were efficacious uptake blockers at DAT and SERT, though pentylone was more DAT-selective. Both drugs acted as transporter substrates that evoked release of [3H]5-HT at SERT, while neither evoked release at DAT. Consistent with the release data, butylone and pentylone induced substrate-associated inward currents at SERT but not DAT. Administration of butylone or pentylone to rats (1 and 3 mg/kg, i.v.) increased extracellular monoamines and motor activity, but pentylone had weaker effects on 5-HT and stronger effects on motor stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that increasing the α-carbon chain length of methylone creates "hybrid" transporter compounds which act as DAT blockers but SERT substrates. Nevertheless, butylone and pentylone elevate extracellular dopamine and stimulate motor activity, suggesting both drugs possess significant risk for abuse.
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Abiero A, Botanas CJ, Sayson LV, Custodio RJ, de la Peña JB, Kim M, Lee HJ, Seo JW, Ryu IS, Chang CM, Yang JS, Lee YS, Jang CG, Kim HJ, Cheong JH. 5-Methoxy-α-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT), a tryptamine derivative, induces head-twitch responses in mice through the activation of serotonin receptor 2a in the prefrontal cortex. Behav Brain Res 2019; 359:828-835. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Simmons SJ, Leyrer-Jackson JM, Oliver CF, Hicks C, Muschamp JW, Rawls SM, Olive MF. DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Cathinone-Derived Psychostimulants. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:2379-2394. [PMID: 29714473 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cathinone is a plant alkaloid found in khat leaves of perennial shrubs grown in East Africa. Similar to cocaine, cathinone elicits psychostimulant effects which are in part attributed to its amphetamine-like structure. Around 2010, home laboratories began altering the parent structure of cathinone to synthesize derivatives with mechanisms of action, potencies, and pharmacokinetics permitting high abuse potential and toxicity. These "synthetic cathinones" include 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and the empathogenic agent 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone) which collectively gained international popularity following aggressive online marketing as well as availability in various retail outlets. Case reports made clear the health risks associated with these agents and, in 2012, the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States placed a series of synthetic cathinones on Schedule I under emergency order. Mechanistically, cathinone and synthetic derivatives work by augmenting monoamine transmission through release facilitation and/or presynaptic transport inhibition. Animal studies confirm the rewarding and reinforcing properties of synthetic cathinones by utilizing self-administration, place conditioning, and intracranial self-stimulation assays and additionally show persistent neuropathological features which demonstrate a clear need to better understand this class of drugs. This Review will thus detail (i) historical context of cathinone use and the rise of "dark" synthetic derivatives, (ii) structural features and mechanisms of synthetic cathinones, (iii) behavioral effects observed clinically and in animals under controlled laboratory conditions, and (iv) neurotransmitters and circuits that may be targeted to manage synthetic cathinone abuse in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Simmons
- Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR), Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | | | - Chicora F. Oliver
- Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR), Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Callum Hicks
- Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR), Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - John W. Muschamp
- Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR), Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Scott M. Rawls
- Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR), Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - M. Foster Olive
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
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Javadi-Paydar M, Harvey EL, Grant Y, Vandewater SA, Creehan KM, Nguyen JD, Dickerson TJ, Taffe MA. Binge-like acquisition of α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) self-administration in female rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018; 235:2447-2457. [PMID: 29909425 PMCID: PMC6295352 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-4943-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The synthetic cathinone α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) has been associated with bizarre public behavior in users. Association of such behavior with extended binges of drug use motivates additional investigation, particularly since a prior study found that half of male rats experience a binge of exceptionally high intake, followed by sustained lower levels of self-administration during the acquisition of intravenous self-administration (IVSA) of a related drug, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone. OBJECTIVES The binge-like acquisition pattern is novel for rat IVSA; thus, the present study sought to determine if this effect generalizes to IVSA of α-PVP in female rats. METHODS Female Wistar rats were trained in IVSA of α-PVP (0.05 mg/kg/inf) in experimental chambers containing an activity wheel. Groups were trained with the wheels fixed (No-Wheel group), fixed for the initial 5 days of acquisition or free to move throughout acquisition (Wheel group). The groups were next subjected to a wheel access switch and then all animals to dose-substitution (0.0125-0.3 mg/kg/inf) with the wheels alternately fixed and free to move. RESULTS Approximately half of the rats initiated their IVSA pattern with a binge day of exceptionally high levels of drug intake, independent of wheel access condition. Wheel activity was much lower in the No-Wheel group in the wheel switch post-acquisition. Dose-effect curves were similar for wheel access training groups, for binge/no binge phenotypic subgroups and were not altered with wheel access during the dose-substitution. CONCLUSION This confirms the high reinforcer effectiveness of α-PVP in female rats and the accompanying devaluation of wheel activity as a naturalistic reward.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric L. Harvey
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yanabel Grant
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Kevin M. Creehan
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jacques D. Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tobin J. Dickerson
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael A. Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Botanas CJ, Yoon SS, de la Peña JB, dela Peña IJ, Kim M, Custodio RJ, Woo T, Seo JW, Jang CG, Yang JS, Yoon YM, Lee YS, Kim HJ, Cheong JH. A new synthetic drug 5-(2-aminopropyl)indole (5-IT) induces rewarding effects and increases dopamine D1 receptor and dopamine transporter mRNA levels. Behav Brain Res 2018; 341:122-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Pantano F, Tittarelli R, Mannocchi G, Pacifici R, di Luca A, Busardò FP, Marinelli E. Neurotoxicity Induced by Mephedrone: An up-to-date Review. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 15:738-749. [PMID: 27908258 PMCID: PMC5771050 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x14666161130130718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mephedrone is a β-ketoamphetamine belonging to the family of synthetic cathinones, an emerging class of designer drugs known for their hallucinogenic and psychostimulant properties as well as for their abuse potential. The aim of this review was to examine the emerging scientific literature on the possible mephedrone-induced neurotoxicity, yet not well defined due to the limited number of experimental studies, mainly carried on animal models. Relevant scientific articles were identified from international literature databases (Medline, Scopus, etc.) using the keywords: “Mephedrone”, “4-MMC,” “neurotoxicity,” “neuropharmacology”, “patents”, “monoamine transporters” and “neurochemical effects”. Of the 498 sources initially found, only 36 papers were suitable for the review. Neurotoxic effect of mephedrone on 5-HT and DA systems remains controversial. Although some studies in animal models reported no damage to DA nerve endings in the striatum and no significant changes in brain monoamine levels, some others suggested a rapid reduction in 5-HT and DA transporter function. Persistent serotonergic deficits were observed after binge like treatment in a warm environment and in both serotonergic and dopaminergic nerve endings at high ambient temperature. Oxidative stress cytotoxicity and an increase in frontal cortex lipid peroxidation were also reported. In vitro cytotoxic properties were also observed, suggesting that mephedrone may act as a reductant agent and can also determine changes in mitochondrial respiration. However, due to the differences in the design of the experiments, including temperature and animal model used, the results are difficult to compare. Further studies on toxicology and pharmacology of mephedrone are therefore necessary to establish an appropriate treatment for substance abuse and eventual consequences for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flaminia Pantano
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology (UoFT), Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome. Italy
| | - Roberta Tittarelli
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology (UoFT), Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome. Italy
| | - Giulio Mannocchi
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology (UoFT), Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome. Italy
| | - Roberta Pacifici
- Drug Abuse and Doping Unit, Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome. Italy
| | - Alessandro di Luca
- Drug Abuse and Doping Unit, Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome. Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology (UoFT), Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy. Italy
| | - Enrico Marinelli
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology (UoFT), Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome. Italy
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Gannon BM, Galindo KI, Mesmin MP, Rice KC, Collins GT. Reinforcing Effects of Binary Mixtures of Common Bath Salt Constituents: Studies with 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), 3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone), and Caffeine in Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018; 43:761-769. [PMID: 28677665 PMCID: PMC5809783 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2017.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Bath salts use is associated with high rates of abuse, toxicity, and death. Bath salt preparations often contain mixtures of drugs including multiple synthetic cathinones (eg, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or 3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone)) or synthetic cathinones and caffeine; however, little is known about whether interactions among bath salt constituents contribute to the abuse-related effects of bath salts preparations. This study used male Sprague-Dawley rats responding under a progressive ratio schedule to quantify the reinforcing effectiveness of MDPV, methylone, and caffeine, administered alone and as binary mixtures (n=12 per mixture). Each mixture was evaluated at four ratios (10 : 1, 3 : 1, 1 : 1, and 1 : 3) relative to the mean ED50 for each drug alone. Dose-addition analyses were used to determine the predicted, additive effect for each dose pair within each drug mixture. MDPV, methylone, and caffeine maintained responding in a dose-dependent manner, with MDPV being the most potent and effective, and caffeine being the least potent and effective of the three bath salts constituents. High levels of responding were also maintained by each of the bath salts mixtures. Although the nature of the interactions tended toward additivity for most bath salts mixtures, supra-additive (3 : 1 MDPV : caffeine, and 3 : 1 and 1 : 1 methylone : caffeine) and sub-additive (3 : 1, 1 : 1, and 1 : 3 MDPV : methylone) interactions were also observed. Together, these findings demonstrate that the composition of bath salts preparations can have an impact on both their reinforcing potency and effectiveness, and suggest that such interactions among constituent drugs could contribute to the patterns of use and effects reported by human bath salts users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda M Gannon
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kayla I Galindo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Melson P Mesmin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, NIDA and NIAAA, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gregory T Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA,South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC# 7764, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA, Tel: +1 210 567 4199, Fax: +1 210 567 1581, E-mail:
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Evaluating the abuse potential of psychedelic drugs as part of the safety pharmacology assessment for medical use in humans. Neuropharmacology 2018; 142:89-115. [PMID: 29427652 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.01.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Psychedelics comprise drugs come from various pharmacological classes including 5-HT2A agonists, indirect 5-HT agonists, e.g., MDMA, NMDA antagonists and κ-opioid receptor agonists. There is resurgence in developing psychedelics to treat psychiatric disorders with high unmet clinical need. Many, but not all, psychedelics are schedule 1 controlled drugs (CDs), i.e., no approved medical use. For existing psychedelics in development, regulatory approval will require a move from schedule 1 to a CD schedule for drugs with medical use, i.e., schedules 2-5. Although abuse of the psychedelics is well documented, a systematic preclinical and clinical evaluation of the risks they pose in a medical-use setting does not exist. We describe the non-clinical tests required for a regulatory evaluation of abuse/dependence risks, i.e., drug-discrimination, intravenous self-administration and physical dependence liability. A synopsis of the existing data for the various types of psychedelics is provided and we describe our findings with psychedelic drugs in these models. FDA recently issued its guidance on abuse/dependence evaluation of drug-candidates (CDER/FDA, 2017). We critically review the guidance, discuss the impact this document will have on non-clinical abuse/dependence testing, and offer advice on how non-clinical abuse/dependence experiments can be designed to meet not only the expectations of FDA, but also other regulatory agencies. Finally, we offer views on how these non-clinical tests can be refined to provide more meaningful information to aid the assessment of the risks posed by CNS drug-candidates for abuse and physical dependence. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'.
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Simmons SJ, Kim E, Gentile TA, Murad A, Muschamp JW, Rawls SM. Behavioral Profiles and Underlying Transmitters/Circuits of Cathinone-Derived Psychostimulant Drugs of Abuse. CURRENT TOPICS IN NEUROTOXICITY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-78707-7_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Oh JH, Hwang JY, Hong SI, Ma SX, Seo JY, Lee SY, Kim HC, Jang CG. The new designer drug buphedrone produces rewarding properties via dopamine D1 receptor activation. Addict Biol 2018; 23:69-79. [PMID: 27790823 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Substituted cathinones are synthetic analogs of the active components of natural products and are widely abused worldwide. However, the rewarding properties of these agents have not yet been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the abuse potential of buphedrone [2-(methylamino)-1-phenylbutan-1-one, α-methylamino-butyrophenone] and its effects on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system in mice using conditioned place preference (CPP) analysis, a self-administration test, a locomotor activity test, a behavioral sensitization test and Western blot analysis. Treatment with buphedrone supported CPP and self-administration, enhanced locomotor activity and produced behavioral sensitization when mice were challenged with methamphetamine. SCH23390, a D1 dopamine antagonist, prevented buphedrone-induced CPP, whereas raclopride, a D2 dopamine antagonist, had no effect. SCH23390 also blocked locomotor activity increase by buphedrone, while raclopride partially attenuated locomotor activation. Western blot analysis revealed that repeated buphedrone treatment increased D1 dopamine receptor expression in the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens in mice. Collectively, these findings suggest the abuse potential of buphedrone and demonstrate the involvement of the dopaminergic system in the establishment of its rewarding properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hwan Oh
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy; Sungkyunkwan University; Korea
| | - Ji-Young Hwang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy; Sungkyunkwan University; Korea
| | - Sa-Ik Hong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy; Sungkyunkwan University; Korea
| | - Shi-Xun Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy; Sungkyunkwan University; Korea
| | - Jee-Yeon Seo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy; Sungkyunkwan University; Korea
| | - Seok-Yong Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy; Sungkyunkwan University; Korea
| | - Hyoung-Chun Kim
- Neurotoxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Korea Institute of Drug Abuse; Kangwon National University; Korea
| | - Choon-Gon Jang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy; Sungkyunkwan University; Korea
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Abstract
Synthetic cathinones are derivatives of the naturally occurring compound cathinone, the main psychoactive ingredient in the khat plant Catha edulis. Cathinone is the β-keto analog of amphetamine, and all synthetic cathinones display a β-keto moiety in their structure. Several synthetic cathinones are widely prescribed medications (e.g., bupropion, Wellbutrin®), while others are problematic drugs of abuse (e.g., 4-methylmethcathinone, mephedrone). Similar to amphetamines, synthetic cathinones are psychomotor stimulants that exert their effects by impairing the normal function of plasma membrane transporters for dopamine (DAT), norepinephrine (NET), and 5-HT (SERT). Ring-substituted cathinones like mephedrone are transporter substrates that evoke neurotransmitter release by reversing the normal direction of transporter flux (i.e., releasers), whereas pyrrolidine-containing cathinones like 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) are potent transporter inhibitors that block neurotransmitter uptake (i.e., blockers). Regardless of molecular mechanism, all synthetic cathinones increase extracellular monoamine concentrations in the brain, thereby enhancing cell-to-cell monoamine signaling. Here, we briefly review the mechanisms of action, structure-activity relationships, and in vivo pharmacology of synthetic cathinones. Overall, the findings show that certain synthetic cathinones are powerful drugs of abuse that could pose significant risk to users.
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High ambient temperature facilitates the acquisition of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) self-administration. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2017; 163:38-49. [PMID: 29054819 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE MDMA alters body temperature in rats with a direction that depends on the ambient temperature (TA). The thermoregulatory effects of MDMA and TA may affect intravenous self-administration (IVSA) of MDMA but limited prior reports conflict. OBJECTIVE To determine how body temperature responses under high and low TA influence MDMA IVSA. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to IVSA MDMA (1.0mg/kg/infusion; 2-h sessions; FR5 schedule of reinforcement) under TA 20°C or 30°C. Radiotelemetry transmitters recorded body temperature and activity during IVSA. RESULTS MDMA intake increased under both TA during acquisition, but to a greater extent in the 30°C group. The magnitude of hypothermia was initially equivalent between groups but diminished over training in the 30°C group. Within-session activity was initially lower in the 30°C group, but by the end of acquisition and maintenance, activity was similar for both groups. When TA conditions were swapped, the hot-trained group increased MDMA IVSA under 20°C TA and a modest decrease in drug intake was observed in the cold-trained group under 30°C TA. Subsequent non-contingent MDMA (1.0-5.0mg/kg, i.v.) found that rats with higher MDMA IVSA rates showed blunted hypothermia compared with rats with lower IVSA levels; however, within-session activity did not differ by group. High TA increased intracranial self-stimulation thresholds in a different group of rats and MDMA reduced thresholds below baseline at low, but not high, TA. CONCLUSIONS High TA appears to enhance acquisition of MDMA IVSA through an aversive effect and not via thermoregulatory motivation.
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Javadi-Paydar M, Nguyen JD, Vandewater SA, Dickerson TJ, Taffe MA. Locomotor and reinforcing effects of pentedrone, pentylone and methylone in rats. Neuropharmacology 2017; 134:57-64. [PMID: 28882561 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The broad diversity of synthetic cathinone psychostimulant drugs that are available to users complicates research efforts to provide understanding of health risks. Second generation cathinones pentedrone and pentylone are distinguished from each other by the 3,4-methylenedioxy structural motif (which distinguishes methamphetamine from 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and each incorporates the α-alkyl chain motif contained in the transporter-inhibitor cathinones (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP)) but not in the monoamine releasers (mephedrone, methylone). Studies were conducted in male and female Wistar rats to compare locomotor and thermoregulatory effects of pentedrone, pentylone and methylone using an implanted radiotelemetry system. Reinforcing effects were assessed in female Wistar rats trained in the intravenous self-administration (IVSA) procedure and subjected to dose-substitution (0.025-0.3 m/gkg/inf) under a fixed-ratio 1 response contingency. Pentedrone, pentylone and methylone dose-effect curves were contrasted with those for α-PVP and α-pyrrolidinohexiophenone (α-PHP). Dose dependent increases in locomotion were observed after intraperitoneal injection of pentylone (0.5-10.0 mg/kg), pentedrone (0.5-10.0 mg/kg) or mephedrone (0.5-10.0 mg/kg) in male and female rats. The maximum locomotor effect was similar across drugs but lasted longest after pentedrone. Mean body temperature did not vary systematically more than 0.5 °C after pentedrone or pentylone in either sex. A sustained hyperthermia (0.4-0.8 °C) was observed for four hours after 10.0 mg/kg methylone in male rats. More infusions of pentedrone or pentylone were self-administered compared with methylone, but all three were less potent than α-PVP or α-PHP. These studies support the inference that second generation cathinones pentylone and pentedrone have abuse liability greater than that of methylone. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Designer Drugs and Legal Highs.'
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacques D Nguyen
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sophia A Vandewater
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tobin J Dickerson
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Taffe
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Nguyen JD, Grant Y, Creehan KM, Vandewater SA, Taffe MA. Escalation of intravenous self-administration of methylone and mephedrone under extended access conditions. Addict Biol 2017; 22:1160-1168. [PMID: 27046454 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The recreational use of substituted cathinones continues to grow as a public health concern in the United States. Studies have shown that extended access to intravenous (i.v.) self-administration of stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, results in escalation of drug intake relative to shorter access; however, little is known about the impact of extended access on self-administration of entactogen class stimulants such as methylone and 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone). Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to short-access (ShA, 2- h) and long-access (LgA, 6- h) groups and trained to self-administer methylone or mephedrone (0.5 mg/kg/infusion) using a fixed-ratio 1 response contingency. The methylone-trained groups were evaluated on a progressive-ratio (PR) procedure incorporating dose-substitution of methylone (0.125-2.5 mg/kg/infusion), mephedrone (0.125-2.5 mg/kg/infusion) or methamphetamine (MA; 0.01-0.5 mg/kg/infusion). Mephedrone-trained rats were similarly evaluated on a PR with mephedrone and MA. Rats trained with LgA to methylone and mephedrone earned more infusions during acquisition compared with ShA groups. Mephedrone-trained LgA rats reached significantly higher breakpoints than all other groups in mephedrone and MA PR tests. Methylone-trained LgA rats exhibited a rightward shift of the peak effective dose but no overall efficacy change compared with methylone-trained ShA rats. These findings show that the self-administration of mephedrone escalates under LgA conditions in a manner similar to traditional stimulants whereas escalation of 6 h intakes of methylone is not accompanied by differences in PR performance. Thus mephedrone represents the greater risk for dysregulated drug consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques D. Nguyen
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
| | - Yanabel Grant
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
| | - Kevin M. Creehan
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
| | - Sophia A. Vandewater
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
| | - Michael A. Taffe
- Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders; The Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla CA USA
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Smith DA, Negus SS, Poklis JL, Blough BE, Banks ML. Cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects of alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, methcathinone and their 3,4-methylenedioxy or 4-methyl analogs in rhesus monkeys. Addict Biol 2017; 22:1169-1178. [PMID: 27060605 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones are beta-ketone amphetamine analogs that have emerged as a heterogeneous class of abused compounds that function as either monoamine transporter substrates or inhibitors. Pre-clinical drug discrimination procedures are useful for interrogating structure-activity relationships of abuse-related drug effects; however, in vivo structure-activity relationship comparisons between synthetic cathinones with different mechanisms of action are lacking. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects of the monoamine transporter inhibitor alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (alpha-PVP) and the monoamine transporter substrate methcathinone were differentially sensitive to 3,4-methylenedioxy and 4-methyl substitutions. Male rhesus monkeys (n = 4) were trained to discriminate intramuscular cocaine (0.32 mg/kg) from saline in a two-key food-reinforced discrimination procedure. Potency and timecourse of cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects were determined for (±)-alpha-PVP, (±)-methcathinone and their 3,4-methylenedioxy or 4-methyl analogs. Alpha-PVP and methcathinone produced dose- and time-dependent cocaine-like effects. A 3,4-methylenedioxy addition to either alpha-PVP or methcathinone (methylone) did not alter the potency or efficacy to produce cocaine-like effects, but did prolong the time course. A 4-methyl addition to alpha-PVP (pyrovalerone) did not alter the potency or efficacy to produce cocaine-like effects, but did prolong the time course. In contrast, addition of a 4-methyl moiety to methcathinone (4MMC; mephedrone) significantly attenuated efficacy to produce cocaine-like effects. Overall, these results suggest different structural requirements for cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects of monoamine transporter inhibitor and substrate synthetic cathinone analogs. Given that 4MMC is more hydrophobic than MDMC, these results suggest that hydrophobicity may be an important determinant for limiting monoamine transporter substrate abuse-related behavioral effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas A. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA 23298
| | - S. Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA 23298
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA 23298
| | - Justin L. Poklis
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA 23298
| | - Bruce E. Blough
- Center for Drug Discovery; Research Triangle Institute; Research Triangle Park NC USA 27709
| | - Matthew L. Banks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA 23298
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies; Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond VA USA 23298
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