1
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Neumann J, Dhein S, Kirchhefer U, Hofmann B, Gergs U. Effects of congeners of amphetamine on the human heart. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:4615-4642. [PMID: 38340182 PMCID: PMC11166837 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-02983-2] [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] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Central stimulatory and hallucinogenic drugs of abuse like amphetamine and most congeners of amphetamine can have cardiac harmful effects. These cardiac side effects can lead to morbidities and death. In this paper, we review current knowledge on the direct and indirect effects of these amphetamine congeners on the mammalian heart-more specifically, the isolated human heart muscle preparation. In detail, we address the question of whether and how these drugs affect cardiac contractility and their mechanisms of action. Based on this information, further research areas are defined, and further research efforts are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Neumann
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 4, 06112, D-06097, Halle, Germany.
| | - Stefan Dhein
- Rudolf-Boehm Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Britt Hofmann
- Cardiac Surgery, Medizinische Fakultät, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, D-06097, Halle, Germany
| | - Ulrich Gergs
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 4, 06112, D-06097, Halle, Germany
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2
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Bassi M, Bilel S, Tirri M, Corli G, Di Rosa F, Gregori A, Alkilany AM, Rachid O, Roda E, De Luca F, Papa P, Buscaglia E, Zauli G, Locatelli CA, Marti M. The synthetic cathinones MDPHP and MDPV: Comparison of the acute effects in mice, in silico ADMET profiles and clinical reports. Neurotoxicology 2024; 103:230-255. [PMID: 38955288 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.06.014] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The 3,4-methylenedioxy-alpha-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MDPHP) is a synthetic cathinone closely related to 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), one of the most common synthetic cathinones present in the "bath salts". MDPHP has recently gained attention due to increasing seizures and involvement in human intoxications which occurred in Europe and Italy in the last years, but currently there is a lack of information about its pharmaco-toxicological effects. With the aim at filling this gap, the present study is endeavoured to (i) evaluate the effects of acute administration of MDPHP (0.01-20 mg/kg; i.p.) on behaviour, cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular parameters in CD-1 male mice, comparing them to those observed after administration of MDPV; (ii) predict the ADMET profile of the two analogues using the Plus ADMET Predictor®; (iii) present clinical data related to MDPHP and MDPV-induced intoxications recorded between 2011 and 2023 by the Pavia Poison Control Centre (PCC) - National Toxicology Information Centre (Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS Pavia, Italy). Our results substantiated that MDPHP and MDPV similarly affect sensorimotor and behavioural responses in mice, importantly increased locomotion and induced aggressive behaviour, and, at higher dosage, increased heart rate and blood pressure. These findings are in line with those observed in humans, revealing severe toxidromes typically characterized by Central Nervous System (CNS) alterations (behavioural/neuropsychiatric symptoms), including psychomotor agitation and aggressiveness, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders (e.g. tachycardia, hypertension, dyspnoea), and other peripheral symptoms (e.g. hyperthermia, acidosis, rhabdomyolysis).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Bassi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sabrine Bilel
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Micaela Tirri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgia Corli
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fabiana Di Rosa
- Department of Scientific Investigation (RIS), Carabinieri, Rome 00191, Italy
| | - Adolfo Gregori
- Department of Scientific Investigation (RIS), Carabinieri, Rome 00191, Italy
| | - Alaaldin M Alkilany
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Qatar
| | - Ousama Rachid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Qatar
| | - Elisa Roda
- Laboratory of Clinical & Experimental Toxicology, Pavia Poison Centre, National Toxicology Information Centre, Toxicology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fabrizio De Luca
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Pietro Papa
- Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology-Clinical Chemistry, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Eleonora Buscaglia
- Laboratory of Clinical & Experimental Toxicology, Pavia Poison Centre, National Toxicology Information Centre, Toxicology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialistic Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlo Alessandro Locatelli
- Laboratory of Clinical & Experimental Toxicology, Pavia Poison Centre, National Toxicology Information Centre, Toxicology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Department of Anti-Drug Policies, Collaborative Center for the Italian National Early Warning System, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Ferrara, Italy.
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3
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Alberto-Silva AS, Hemmer S, Bock HA, da Silva LA, Scott KR, Kastner N, Bhatt M, Niello M, Jäntsch K, Kudlacek O, Bossi E, Stockner T, Meyer MR, McCorvy JD, Brandt SD, Kavanagh P, Sitte HH. Bioisosteric analogs of MDMA: Improving the pharmacological profile? J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38898705 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') is re-emerging in clinical settings as a candidate for the treatment of specific neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder) in combination with psychotherapy. MDMA is a psychoactive drug, typically regarded as an empathogen or entactogen, which leads to transporter-mediated monoamine release. Despite its therapeutic potential, MDMA can induce dose-, individual-, and context-dependent untoward effects outside safe settings. In this study, we investigated whether three new methylenedioxy bioisosteres of MDMA improve its off-target profile. In vitro methods included radiotracer assays, transporter electrophysiology, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and fluorescence-based assays, pooled human liver microsome/S9 fraction incubations, metabolic stability studies, isozyme mapping, and liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. In silico methods included molecular docking. Compared with MDMA, all three MDMA bioisosteres (ODMA, TDMA, and SeDMA) showed similar pharmacological activity at human serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine transporters (hSERT, hDAT, and hNET, respectively) but decreased agonist activity at 5-HT2A/2B/2C receptors. Regarding their hepatic metabolism, they differed from MDMA, with N-demethylation being the only metabolic route shared, and without forming phase II metabolites. In addition, TDMA showed an enhanced intrinsic clearance in comparison to its congeners. Additional screening for their interaction with human organic cation transporters (hOCTs) and plasma membrane monoamine transporter (hPMAT) revealed a weaker interaction of the MDMA analogs with hOCT1, hOCT2, and hPMAT. Our findings suggest that these new MDMA bioisosteres might constitute appealing therapeutic alternatives to MDMA, sparing the primary pharmacological activity at hSERT, hDAT, and hNET, but displaying a reduced activity at 5-HT2A/2B/2C receptors and alternative hepatic metabolism. Whether these MDMA bioisosteres may pose lower risk alternatives to the clinically re-emerging MDMA warrants further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Alberto-Silva
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Selina Hemmer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Hailey A Bock
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Leticia Alves da Silva
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kenneth R Scott
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nina Kastner
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manan Bhatt
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Marco Niello
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kathrin Jäntsch
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Kudlacek
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elena Bossi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
- Center for Research in Neuroscience, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Thomas Stockner
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus R Meyer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Pierce Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Harald H Sitte
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
- Center for Addiction Research and Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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4
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Jang EY, Lee BH, Yun J, Yang CH, Yoon SS. Effects of the Synthetic Cathinone α-Pyrrolidinobutiothiophenone (α-PBT) on Discriminative Stimulus Effects and Intracranial Self-Stimulation Thresholds in Male Rats. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:2420-2431. [PMID: 38838000 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.4c00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, the abuse of synthetic cathinones is increasing among young people. α-Pyrrolidinobutiothiophenone (α-PBT), a synthetic cathinone, is a designer drug that is freely traded online with no legal restrictions. Moreover, there is currently no scientific basis for legal regulation. Here, we examined the addictive properties of α-PBT using a drug discrimination (DD) task. We also investigated the role of α-PBT in brain stimulation reward (BSR) using an intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) paradigm in rats. Initially, the rats were trained to discriminate between cocaine and saline. After the discrimination training criteria were met, we determined the dose-effect curves of cocaine and conducted generalization tests with α-PBT and α-pyrrolidinopentiothiophenone (α-PVT) using a cumulative dosing protocol. In a separate set of studies, we examined the dopaminergic mechanisms underlying the function of α-PBT as an interoceptive stimulus (17.8 mg/kg) by intraperitoneally injecting either the dopamine (DA) D1 antagonist SCH23390 (0.06 and 0.12 mg/kg) or the D2 antagonist eticlopride (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg) 15 min before DD testing. Brain reward function was measured using an ICSS procedure to examine the effects of α-PBT on ICSS threshold under the frequency-rate procedure. Our results showed that α-PBT functioned as a discriminative cue similar to cocaine in rats. More importantly, SCH23390 abolished the effects of α-PBT as an interoceptive stimulus in a dose-dependent manner in rats trained to press a lever to receive cocaine. Similarly, eticlopride dose-dependently attenuated the effect of α-PBT used as a discriminative cue. Additionally, cumulative α-PBT administration dose-dependently lowered ICSS thresholds compared with those in saline-treated rats. Furthermore, α-PBT-induced potentiation of BSR was abolished by pretreatment with both SCH23390 and eticlopride. Taken together, our results suggest that α-PBT can function as a cocaine-like discriminative cue via the activation of D1 and D2 receptors. α-PBT also appears to influence BSR by reducing the brain reward threshold via changes in D1 and D2 receptors. The present study suggests that α-PBT could have addictive properties through DA D1 and D2 receptors and thus poses a threat to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Young Jang
- Department of Advanced Toxicology Research, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong Hyo Lee
- Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 136 Sincheondong-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu 42158, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesuk Yun
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae Ha Yang
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 136 Sincheondong-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu 42158, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Shoon Yoon
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, 136 Sincheondong-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu 42158, Republic of Korea
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5
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Daswani RR, Choles CM, Kim DD, Barr AM. A systematic review and meta-analysis of synthetic cathinone use and psychosis. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:875-896. [PMID: 38446172 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06569-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Synthetic cathinones (SC), commonly referred to as "bath salts", are stimulants resembling the natural alkaloid cathinone found in the khat plant. These substances have the potential to induce serious health risks such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia and agitation which can lead to substance-induced psychotic disorders. Despite growing concerns, there is a limited understanding of the association between SC consumption and the devolvement of such psychopathologies. METHODS We conducted a systematic review to investigate the frequency of substance-induced psychotic disorder (SIPD) and associated conditions in humans following synthetic cathinone consumption. We qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed SC exposure cases. RESULTS A total of 32 studies were included, with a diverse range of demographics, synthetic cathinone types, and consumption patterns. The proportion of individuals developing psychotic symptoms was reported at 0.380 (Random-effects model, 95% CI 0.289 - 0.475). Additionally, the significant heterogeneity in diagnostic approaches limited our ability to provide a precise estimate of prevalence. CONCLUSIONS Synthetic cathinone consumption is associated with the risk of developing psychotic symptoms as indicated by the prevalence of hallucinations and/or delusions. Due to the lack of information on classifying factors, particularly duration of symptoms, we are unable to conclude synthetic cathinone-induced psychosis. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanism linking synthetic cathinone consumption and psychosis. This review underscores the urgency of addressing the growing health risks posed by synthetic cathinone use. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of proper quantification of psychotic symptoms through scales and reporting of classification criteria to accurately diagnose SIPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishika R Daswani
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z3, Canada
- Centre for Heart and Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Cassandra M Choles
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z3, Canada
- International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David D Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z3, Canada
- British Columbia Mental Health & Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alasdair M Barr
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z3, Canada.
- British Columbia Mental Health & Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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6
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Alberto-Silva AS, Hemmer S, Bock HA, Alves da Silva L, Scott KR, Kastner N, Bhatt M, Niello M, Jäntsch K, Kudlacek O, Bossi E, Stockner T, Meyer MR, McCorvy JD, Brandt SD, Kavanagh P, Sitte HH. Bioisosteric analogs of MDMA with improved pharmacological profile. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.08.588083. [PMID: 38645142 PMCID: PMC11030374 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.08.588083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ' ecstasy' ) is re-emerging in clinical settings as a candidate for the treatment of specific psychiatric disorders (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder) in combination with psychotherapy. MDMA is a psychoactive drug, typically regarded as an empathogen or entactogen, which leads to transporter-mediated monoamine release. Despite its therapeutic potential, MDMA can induce dose-, individual-, and context-dependent untoward effects outside safe settings. In this study, we investigated whether three new methylenedioxy bioisosteres of MDMA improve its off-target profile. In vitro methods included radiotracer assays, transporter electrophysiology, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer and fluorescence-based assays, pooled human liver microsome/S9 fraction incubation with isozyme mapping, and liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. In silico methods included molecular docking. Compared with MDMA, all three MDMA bioisosteres (ODMA, TDMA, and SeDMA) showed similar pharmacological activity at human serotonin and dopamine transporters (hSERT and hDAT, respectively) but decreased activity at 5-HT 2A/2B/2C receptors. Regarding their hepatic metabolism, they differed from MDMA, with N -demethylation being the only metabolic route shared, and without forming phase II metabolites. Additional screening for their interaction with human organic cation transporters (hOCTs) and plasma membrane transporter (hPMAT) revealed a weaker interaction of the MDMA analogs with hOCT1, hOCT2, and hPMAT. Our findings suggest that these new MDMA analogs might constitute appealing therapeutic alternatives to MDMA, sparing the primary pharmacological activity at hSERT and hDAT, but displaying a reduced activity at 5-HT 2A/2B/2C receptors and reduced hepatic metabolism. Whether these MDMA bioisosteres may pose lower risk alternatives to the clinically re-emerging MDMA warrants further studies.
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7
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Alanazi IM, Alzahrani AR, Alsaad MA, Moqeem AL, Hamdi AM, Taher MM, Watson DG, Helen Grant M. The effect of mephedrone on human neuroblastoma and astrocytoma cells. Saudi Pharm J 2024; 32:102011. [PMID: 38454918 PMCID: PMC10918268 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.102011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Mephedrone is an illegal drug that is used recreationally. Few studies have been conducted to investigate the mechanisms by which mephedrone is harming cells. In this research, we investigated the effect of mephedrone using toxicology coupled with LC-MS/MS based metabolomics in the two CNS derived cell lines. Methods of assessment such as neutral red (NR) assay, dimethylthiazolyl diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), lactose dehydrogenase (LDH) measurement, and morphology were performed to identify the effect on cell viability and to identify the best concentration to be used in a metabolomics study. A concentration of 100 μM of mephedrone was used in the metabolomic experiment because at this concentration mephedrone had induced several intracellular changes. Although there no clear indicators of cellular damage caused by mephedrone. In astrocytes there was a clear indication that cell membrane function might be impaired by depletion of ether lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim M. Alanazi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abidiyah, P.O.Box 13578, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah R. Alzahrani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abidiyah, P.O.Box 13578, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad A. Alsaad
- Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Umm AL Qura University, Al-Abidiyah, P.O.Box 13578, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz L. Moqeem
- Home Health Care,Directorate of Health Affairs Jeddah, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box11176, Ryiadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmohsen M. Hamdi
- Home Health Care,Directorate of Health Affairs Jeddah, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box11176, Ryiadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohiuddin M. Taher
- Science and Technology Unit, Deanship of Scientific Research, and Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Umm-Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - David G. Watson
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
| | - M. Helen Grant
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NW, UK
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8
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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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9
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Bukowski L, Strøm ME, Andersen JL, Maesen JB, Tian L, Sinning S. 5-HT_FAsTR: a versatile, label-free, high-throughput, fluorescence-based microplate assay to quantify serotonin transport and release. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6541. [PMID: 38504103 PMCID: PMC10951269 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56712-z] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurotransmitter serotonin plays a pivotal role in mood and depression. It also acts as a vasoconstrictor within blood vessels and is the main neurotransmitter in the gastrointestinal system. In neurotransmission, released serotonin is taken up by serotonin transporters, which are principal targets of antidepressants and the psychostimulant, ecstasy. The investigation of serotonin transporters have relied almost exclusively on the use of radiolabeled serotonin in heterogenous end-point assays. Here we adapt the genetically encoded fluorescent biosensor, iSeroSnFR, to establish and validate the Serotonin (5-HT) Fluorescence Assay for Transport and Release (5-HT_FAsTR) for functional and pharmacological studies of serotonin transport and release. We demonstrate the applicability of the method for the study of a neuronal, high-affinity, low-capacity serotonin transporter (SERT) as well as an extraneuronal low-affinity, high-capacity organic cation transporter and mutants thereof. 5HT_FAsTR offers an accessible, versatile and reliable semi-homogenous assay format that only relies on a fluorescence plate reader for repeated, real-time measurements of serotonin influx and efflux. 5HT_FAsTR accelerates and democratizes functional characterization and pharmacological studies of serotonin transporters and genetic variants thereof in disease states such as depression, anxiety and ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Bukowski
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Markus Emanuel Strøm
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jens Lindengren Andersen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Jannick Bang Maesen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Lin Tian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616-8635, USA
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Steffen Sinning
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
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10
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Li Z, Peng HY, Lee CS, Lin TB, Hsieh MC, Lai CY, Wu HF, Chen LC, Chen MC, Chou D. Methylone produces antidepressant-relevant actions and prosocial effects. Neuropharmacology 2024; 242:109787. [PMID: 37913982 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Methylone (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone) is a rapid-acting entactogen that has been shown to have significant benefits in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder and is well tolerated in phase 1 clinical trials. A recent preclinical study reported that methylone produced robust antidepressant-like actions in naïve rats. However, its antidepressant effects on various stress-related psychopathologies and other neuropsychological actions remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the antidepressant-relevant effects of methylone in learned helplessness (LH) and social defeat stress C57BL/6J male mouse models and further explored its sociability-relevant neuropsychological actions. Our results indicate that methylone produces antidepressant-relevant effects on the helpless phenotype, LH-evoked depressive-like behaviors, and psychosocial stress-induced social avoidance, and induced depressive-like behaviors. In addition, methylone was found to enhance social preference and increase various social behaviors, including social contact, sniffing, allogrooming, and following. Moreover, methylone appeared to elevate empathy-like phenotypes and was also found to increase helping-like behavior. Overall, the present results suggest that methylone plays an antidepressant-like role in various stress-relevant psychopathologies and could be an ideal antidepressant candidate. In addition, novel findings on the elevated tendencies of social preference and empathy-like and helping-like phenotypes reveal that methylone may have potential application in patients with social deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenlong Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhuhai Campus of Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
| | - Hsien-Yu Peng
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Chau-Shoun Lee
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Tzer-Bin Lin
- Institute of New Drug Development, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Chun Hsieh
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Yuan Lai
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Han-Fang Wu
- Department of Optometry, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Lih-Chyang Chen
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Mei-Ci Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
| | - Dylan Chou
- Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan.
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11
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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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12
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Angerer V, Schmid Y, Franz F, Gnann H, Speer JM, Gnann A, Helmecke S, Buchwald A, Brandt SD, Passie T, Liechti ME, Auwärter V. Acute psychotropic, autonomic, and endocrine effects of 5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane (MDAI) compared with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in human volunteers: A self-administration study. Drug Test Anal 2023. [PMID: 38056906 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3622] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The acute psychoactive, autonomic, and endocrine effects of the new psychoactive substance (NPS) 5,6-methylenedioxy-2-aminoindane (MDAI; 3.0 mg/kg, range 180-228 mg) were investigated in six healthy volunteers (four males, two females) in a non-blinded fashion without placebo. Subjective, cardiovascular, and endocrine responses were compared with two different doses of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (75 mg and 125 mg) described in previously published placebo-controlled studies, which used identical outcome measures including Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), the Adjective Mood Rating Scale (AMRS), and the 5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness (5D-ASC) scale. MDAI was well tolerated and produced subjective effects comparable with those of 125 mg MDMA. MDAI increased blood pressure similar to 125 mg MDMA but did not increase heart rate or body temperature. MDAI increased cortisol and prolactin levels and could be detected in serum about 20 min post ingestion and remained detectable at least for 4 days. In urine, MDAI was detectable over a period of at least 6 days. Further clinical investigations are warranted to assess whether MDAI could serve as drug with medicinal properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Angerer
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yasmin Schmid
- Psychopharmacology Research, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine and Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Florian Franz
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Armin Buchwald
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Torsten Passie
- Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute for History and Ethics in Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Matthias E Liechti
- Psychopharmacology Research, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedicine and Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Volker Auwärter
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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13
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Mayer FP, Niello M, Bulling S, Zhang YW, Li Y, Kudlacek O, Holy M, Kooti F, Sandtner W, Rudnick G, Schmid D, Sitte HH. Mephedrone induces partial release at human dopamine transporters but full release at human serotonin transporters. Neuropharmacology 2023; 240:109704. [PMID: 37703919 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) is a cathinone derivative that is recreationally consumed for its energizing and empathogenic effects. The stimulating properties are believed to arise from the ability of mephedrone to interact with the high-affinity transporters for dopamine (DA) (DAT) and norepinephrine (NET), whereas the entactogenic effect presumably relies on its activity at the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT). Early studies found that mephedrone acts as a releaser at NET, DAT and SERT, and thus promotes efflux of the respective monoamines. Evidence linked drug-induced reverse transport of 5-HT via SERT to prosocial effects, whereas activity at DAT is strongly correlated with abuse liability. Consequently, we sought to evaluate the pharmacology of mephedrone at human (h) DAT and SERT, heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, in further detail. In line with previous studies, we report that mephedrone evokes carrier-mediated release via hDAT and hSERT. We found this effect to be sensitive to the protein kinase C inhibitor GF109203X. Electrophysiological recordings revealed that mephedrone is actively transported by hDAT and hSERT. However, mephedrone acts as a full substrate of hSERT but as a partial substrate of hDAT. Furthermore, when compared to fully efficacious releasing agents at hDAT and hSERT (i.e. S(+)-amphetamine and para-chloroamphetamine, respectively) mephedrone displays greater efficacy as a releaser at hSERT than at hDAT. In summary, this study provides additional insights into the molecular mechanism of action of mephedrone at hDAT and hSERT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix P Mayer
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marco Niello
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Simon Bulling
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yuan-Wei Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520-8066, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Kudlacek
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marion Holy
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fatemeh Kooti
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Sandtner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gary Rudnick
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520-8066, USA
| | - Diethart Schmid
- Institute for Physiology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald H Sitte
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria; Hourani Center for Applied Scientific Research, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan; Center for Addiction Research and Science - AddRess, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13a, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
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14
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Brugnoli FR, Holy M, Niello M, Maier J, Hanreich M, Menzel M, Haberler M, Zulus N, Pickl T, Ivanova C, Muiznieks LD, Garlan B, Sitte HH. Development and validation of an automated microfluidic perfusion platform for parallelized screening of compounds in vitro. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2023; 133:535-547. [PMID: 37658634 PMCID: PMC10952622 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13940] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Monoamine transporters are of great interest for their role in the physiological activity of the body and their link to mental and behavioural disorders. Currently, static well-plate assays or manual perfusion systems are used to characterize the interaction of psychostimulants, antidepressants and drugs of abuse with the transporters but still suffer from significant drawbacks caused by lack of automation, for example, low reproducibility, non-comparability of results. An automated microfluidic platform was developed to address the need for more standardized procedures for cell-based assays. An automated system was used to control and drive the simultaneous perfusion of 12 channels on a microfluidic chip, establishing a more standardized protocol to perform release assays to study monoamine transporter-mediated substrate efflux. D-Amphetamine, GBR12909 (norepinephrine transporter) and p-chloroamphetamine, paroxetine (serotonin transporter) were used as control compounds to validate the system. The platform was able to produce the expected releasing (D-Amphetamine, p-chloroamphetamine) or inhibiting (GBR12909, paroxetine) profiles for the two transporters. The reduction of manual operation and introduction of automated flow control enabled the implementation of stronger standardized protocols and the possibility of obtaining higher throughput by increasing parallelization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca R. Brugnoli
- Elvesys ‐ Microfluidic Innovation CenterParisFrance
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of PharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Marion Holy
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of PharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Marco Niello
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of PharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Julian Maier
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of PharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Marcus Hanreich
- Höhere Technische Bundeslehr‐ und Versuchsanstalt Mödling (HTL Mödling)MödlingAustria
| | - Mario Menzel
- Höhere Technische Bundeslehr‐ und Versuchsanstalt Mödling (HTL Mödling)MödlingAustria
| | - Matthias Haberler
- Höhere Technische Bundeslehr‐ und Versuchsanstalt Mödling (HTL Mödling)MödlingAustria
| | - Niklas Zulus
- Höhere Technische Bundeslehr‐ und Versuchsanstalt Mödling (HTL Mödling)MödlingAustria
| | - Thomas Pickl
- Höhere Technische Bundeslehr‐ und Versuchsanstalt Mödling (HTL Mödling)MödlingAustria
| | | | | | | | - Harald H. Sitte
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of PharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
- Hourani Center for Applied Scientific ResearchAl‐Ahliyya Amman UniversityAmmanJordan
- Center for Addiction Research and Science ‐ AddRessMedical University ViennaViennaAustria
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15
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Nguyen VT, Harris AC, Eltit JM. Structural and functional perspectives on interactions between synthetic cathinones and monoamine transporters. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2023; 99:83-124. [PMID: 38467490 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2023.09.001] [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
Synthetic cathinone derivatives comprise a family of psychoactive compounds structurally related to amphetamine. Over the last decade, clandestine chemists have synthesized a consistent stream of innovative cathinone derivatives to outpace governmental regulatory restrictions. Many of these unregulated substances are produced and distributed as designer drugs. Two of the principal chemical scaffolds exploited to expand the synthetic cathinone family are methcathinone and α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (or α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, α-PVP). These compounds' main physiological targets are monoamine transporters, where they promote addiction by potentiating dopaminergic neurotransmission. This chapter describes techniques used to study the pharmacodynamic properties of cathinones at monoamine transporters in vitro. Biochemical techniques described include uptake inhibition and release assays in rat brain synaptosomes and in mammalian expression systems. Electrophysiological techniques include current measurements using the voltage clamp technique. We describe a Ca2+ mobilization assay wherein voltage-gated Ca2+ channels function as reporters to study the action of synthetic cathinones at monoamine transporters. We discuss results from systematic structure-activity relationship studies on simple and complex cathinones at monoamine transporters with an emphasis on identifying structural moieties that modulate potency and selectivity at these transporters. Moreover, different profiles of selectivity at monoamine transporters directly predict compounds associated with behavioral and subjective effects within animals and humans. In conclusion, clarification of the structural aspects of compounds which modulate potency and selectivity at monoamine transporters is critical to identify and predict potential addictive drugs. This knowledge may allow prompt allocation of resources toward drugs that represent the greatest threats after drugs are identified by forensic laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vy T Nguyen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Alan C Harris
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Jose M Eltit
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.
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16
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Teixidó E, Riera-Colomer C, Raldúa D, Pubill D, Escubedo E, Barenys M, López-Arnau R. First-Generation Synthetic Cathinones Produce Arrhythmia in Zebrafish Eleutheroembryos: A New Approach Methodology for New Psychoactive Substances Cardiotoxicity Evaluation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13869. [PMID: 37762171 PMCID: PMC10531093 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813869] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing number of new psychoactive substances (NPS) entering the illicit drug market, especially synthetic cathinones, as well as the risk of cardiovascular complications, is intensifying the need to quickly assess their cardiotoxic potential. The present study aims to evaluate the cardiovascular toxicity and lethality induced by first-generation synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, methylone, and MDPV) and more classical psychostimulants (cocaine and MDMA) in zebrafish embryos using a new approach methodology (NAM). Zebrafish embryos at 4 dpf were exposed to the test drugs for 24 h to identify drug lethality. Drug-induced effects on ventricular and atrial heart rate after 2 h exposure were evaluated, and video recordings were properly analyzed. All illicit drugs displayed similar 24 h LC50 values. Our results indicate that all drugs are able to induce bradycardia, arrhythmia, and atrial-ventricular block (AV block), signs of QT interval prolongation. However, only MDPV induced a different rhythmicity change depending on the chamber and was the most potent bradycardia and AV block-inducing drug compared to the other tested compounds. In summary, our results strongly suggest that the NAM presented in this study can be used for screening NPS for their cardiotoxic effect and especially for their ability to prolong the QT intervals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Teixidó
- GRET and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Clara Riera-Colomer
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Pharmacology Section, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Demetrio Raldúa
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Pubill
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Pharmacology Section, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Escubedo
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Pharmacology Section, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Barenys
- GRET and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, University of Barcelona (INSA-UB), 08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Raul López-Arnau
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Pharmacology Section, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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17
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Karabulut S, Kaur H, Gauld JW. Applications and Potential of In Silico Approaches for Psychedelic Chemistry. Molecules 2023; 28:5966. [PMID: 37630218 PMCID: PMC10459288 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28165966] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular-level investigations of the Central Nervous System have been revolutionized by the development of computational methods, computing power, and capacity advances. These techniques have enabled researchers to analyze large amounts of data from various sources, including genomics, in vivo, and in vitro drug tests. In this review, we explore how computational methods and informatics have contributed to our understanding of mental health disorders and the development of novel drugs for neurological diseases, with a special focus on the emerging field of psychedelics. In addition, the use of state-of-the-art computational methods to predict the potential of drug compounds and bioinformatic tools to integrate disparate data sources to create predictive models is also discussed. Furthermore, the challenges associated with these methods, such as the need for large datasets and the diversity of in vitro data, are explored. Overall, this review highlights the immense potential of computational methods and informatics in Central Nervous System research and underscores the need for continued development and refinement of these techniques and more inclusion of Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSARs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedat Karabulut
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada;
| | - Harpreet Kaur
- Pharmala Biotech, 82 Richmond Street E, Toronto, ON M5C 1P1, Canada;
| | - James W. Gauld
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada;
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18
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Wronikowska-Denysiuk O, Michalak A, Pankowska A, Kurach Ł, Kozioł P, Łazorczyk A, Kochalska K, Targowska-Duda K, Boguszewska-Czubara A, Budzyńska B. Relationship between GABA-Ergic System and the Expression of Mephedrone-Induced Reward in Rats-Behavioral, Chromatographic and In Vivo Imaging Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9958. [PMID: 37373105 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129958] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mephedrone is a psychoactive drug that increases dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline levels in the central nervous system via interaction with transporters or monoamines. The aim of the presented study was to assess the role of the GABA-ergic system in the expression of mephedrone-induced reward. For this purpose, we conducted (a) a behavioral evaluation of the impact of baclofen (a GABAB receptors agonist) and GS39783 (a positive allosteric modulator of GABAB receptors) on the expression of mephedrone-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats, (b) an ex vivo chromatographic determination of the GABA level in the hippocampi of rats subchronically treated with mephedrone and (c) an in vivo evaluation of GABA hippocampal concentration in rats subchronically administered with mephedrone using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The results show that GS39783 (but not baclofen) blocked the expression of CPP induced by (20 mg/kg of) mephedrone. The behavioral effect was consistent with chromatographic analysis, which showed that mephedrone (5 and 20 mg/kg) led to a decrease in GABA hippocampal concentration. Altogether, the presented study provides a new insight into the involvement of the GABA-ergic system in the rewarding effects of mephedrone, implying that those effects are at least partially mediated through GABAB receptors, which suggests their potential role as new targets for the pharmacological management of mephedrone use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Wronikowska-Denysiuk
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Michalak
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, 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
| | - Łukasz Kurach
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Paulina Kozioł
- Department of Radiography, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16 Street, 20-081 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
| | - Katarzyna Targowska-Duda
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Boguszewska-Czubara
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Barbara Budzyńska
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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19
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Chojnacki MR, Thorndike EB, Partilla JS, Rice KC, Schindler CW, Baumann MH. Neurochemical and Cardiovascular Effects of 4-Chloro Ring-Substituted Synthetic Cathinones in Rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2023; 385:162-170. [PMID: 36669877 PMCID: PMC10201577 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones are a class of new psychoactive substances that display psychomotor stimulant properties, and novel cathinone analogs continue to emerge in illicit drug markets worldwide. The aim of the present study was to characterize the pharmacology of 4-chloro ring-substituted cathinones that are appearing in illicit drug markets compared with the effects of 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone). Synaptosomes were prepared from rat caudate for dopamine transporter (DAT) assays or from whole brain minus caudate and cerebellum for norepinephrine transporter (NET) and serotonin transporter (SERT) assays. Findings from transporter uptake inhibition and release assays showed that mephedrone and 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) function as substrates at DAT, NET, and SERT, with similar potency at all three transporters. In contrast, 4-chloro-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (4-CαPPP) was an uptake inhibitor at DAT and NET, with similar potency at each site, but had little activity at SERT. 4-Chloroethcathinone (4-CEC) was a low-potency uptake inhibitor at DAT and NET but a substrate at SERT. In rats implanted with telemetry transmitters, mephedrone and 4-CMC increased blood pressure, heart rate, and locomotor activity to a similar extent. 4-CEC and 4-CαPPP were less potent at increasing blood pressure and had modest stimulatory effects on heart rate and activity. 4-CMC also transiently decreased temperature at the highest dose tested. All three 4-chloro ring-substituted cathinones are biologically active, but only 4-CMC has potency comparable to mephedrone. Collectively, our findings suggest that 4-CMC and other 4-chloro cathinones may have abuse potential and adverse effects in humans that are analogous to those associated with mephedrone. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The 4-chloro ring-substituted cathinones all produced significant cardiovascular stimulation, with 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) showing potency similar to mephedrone. All of the drugs are likely to be abused given their effects at the dopamine transporter, particularly 4-CMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Chojnacki
- Designer Drug Research Unit (M.R.C., J.S.P., C.W.S., M.H.B.) and Preclinical Pharmacology Section (E.B.T., C.W.S.), National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland; and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Intramural Research Programs, Rockville, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Eric B Thorndike
- Designer Drug Research Unit (M.R.C., J.S.P., C.W.S., M.H.B.) and Preclinical Pharmacology Section (E.B.T., C.W.S.), National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland; and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Intramural Research Programs, Rockville, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - John S Partilla
- Designer Drug Research Unit (M.R.C., J.S.P., C.W.S., M.H.B.) and Preclinical Pharmacology Section (E.B.T., C.W.S.), National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland; and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Intramural Research Programs, Rockville, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Designer Drug Research Unit (M.R.C., J.S.P., C.W.S., M.H.B.) and Preclinical Pharmacology Section (E.B.T., C.W.S.), National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland; and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Intramural Research Programs, Rockville, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Charles W Schindler
- Designer Drug Research Unit (M.R.C., J.S.P., C.W.S., M.H.B.) and Preclinical Pharmacology Section (E.B.T., C.W.S.), National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland; and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Intramural Research Programs, Rockville, Maryland (K.C.R.)
| | - Michael H Baumann
- Designer Drug Research Unit (M.R.C., J.S.P., C.W.S., M.H.B.) and Preclinical Pharmacology Section (E.B.T., C.W.S.), National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland; and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Intramural Research Programs, Rockville, Maryland (K.C.R.)
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20
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Sprega G, Di Giorgi A, Poyatos L, Papaseit E, Pérez-Mañá C, Tini A, Pichini S, Busardò FP, Lo Faro AF, Farré M. Usefulness of Oral Fluid for Measurement of Methylone and Its Metabolites: Correlation with Plasma Drug Concentrations and the Effect of Oral Fluid pH. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13040468. [PMID: 37110127 PMCID: PMC10143603 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate methylone and its metabolites concentration in oral fluid following controlled increasing doses, focusing on the effect of oral fluid pH. Samples were obtained from a clinical trial where twelve healthy volunteers participated after ingestion of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg of methylone. Concentration of methylone and its metabolites 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-N-methylcathinone (HMMC) and 3,4-methylenedioxycathinone in oral fluid were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated, and the oral fluid-to-plasma ratio (OF/P) at each time interval was calculated and correlated with the oral fluid pH using data from our previous study in plasma. Methylone was detected at all time intervals after each dose; MDC and HMMC were not detectable after the lowest dose. Oral fluid concentrations of methylone ranged between 88.3-503.8, 85.5-5002.3, 182.8-13,201.8 and 214.6-22,684.6 ng/mL following 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg doses, respectively, peaked between 1.5 and 2.0 h, and were followed by a progressive decrease. Oral fluid pH was demonstrated to be affected by methylone administration. Oral fluid is a valid alternative to plasma for methylone determination for clinical and toxicological studies, allowing for a simple, easy and non-invasive sample collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Sprega
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Giorgi
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Lourdes Poyatos
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Esther Papaseit
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 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), 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Anastasio Tini
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Alfredo Fabrizio Lo Faro
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Magí Farré
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology and Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
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21
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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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22
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Corli G, Tirri M, Arfè R, Marchetti B, Bernardi T, Borsari M, Odoardi S, Mestria S, Strano-Rossi S, Neri M, Gaudio RM, Bilel S, Marti M. Pharmaco-Toxicological Effects of Atypical Synthetic Cathinone Mephtetramine (MTTA) in Mice: Possible Reasons for Its Brief Appearance over NPSs Scene. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020161. [PMID: 36831704 PMCID: PMC9954072 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last year, NPSs have been steadily on the rise in the illicit drug market. Among these, synthetic cathinones seem to become increasingly popular among young adults, mainly because of their ability to replicate the effects of traditional psychostimulant drugs, such as cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines. However, scarce data are available about the in vivo pharmaco-toxicology of these new substances. To this end, this study focused on evaluation of effects induced by repeated administration of mephtetramine (MTTA 0.1-30 mg/kg i.p.) in mice. This atypical cathinone highlighted a sensorial (inhibition of visual and acoustic reflexes) and transient physiological parameter (decrease in breath rate and temperature) change in mice. Regarding motor activity, both a dose-dependent increase (accelerod test) and biphasic effect (drag and mobility time test) have been shown. In addition, blood and urine samples have been analysed to enrich the experimental featuring of the present study with reference to evaluation of potential toxicity related to consumption of MTTA. The latter analysis has particularly revealed important changes in blood cells count and blood and urine physicochemical profile after repeated treatment with this atypical cathinone. Moreover, MTTA induced histological changes in heart, kidney and liver samples, emphasizing its potential toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Corli
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Micaela Tirri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Raffaella Arfè
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Beatrice Marchetti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Tatiana Bernardi
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Martina Borsari
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sara Odoardi
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Mestria
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Sabina Strano-Rossi
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita Neri
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Gaudio
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sabrine Bilel
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Matteo Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Collaborative Center for the Italian National Early Warning System, Department of Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, 00186 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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23
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Behavioral and Pharmacokinetics Studies of N-Methyl-2-Aminoindane (NM2AI) in Mice: An Aminoindane Briefly Used in the Illicit Drug Market. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031882. [PMID: 36768197 PMCID: PMC9916073 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug forums are considered as the main platform sources that have contributed to the increase in NPS popularity, especially for those not yet known to law enforcement and therefore not yet illegal. An example is the new synthetic stimulant NM2AI, which has a very short history of human use and abuse. Little is known regarding this compound, but some information from internet forums and the scientific literature indicates NM2AI as a structural derivate of MDAI, which is known for its entactogenic activity. Indeed, the purpose of this study is to evaluate, for the first time, the in vivo acute effect induced by the intraperitoneal injection of NM2AI (1-10-30-100 mg/kg) in mice. We demonstrate the sensory (by visual placing and object tests) and physiological (core temperature measurement) function variations, nociceptor (by tail pinch test) and strength (grip test) alterations, and sensorimotor (time on rod and mobility) decrease. Moreover, we verify the mild hallucinogenic effect of NM2AI (by startle/prepulse inhibition test). Lastly, we perform a pharmacokinetic study on mice blood samples, highlighting that the main active metabolite of NM2AI is 2-aminoindane (2AI). Taken together, our data confirm the suspected entactogenic activity of NM2AI; however, these in vivo effects appear atypical and less intense with respect to those induced by the classic stimulants, in surprising analogy with what is reported by networked users.
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24
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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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25
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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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Poyatos L, Lo Faro AF, Berardinelli D, Sprega G, Malaca S, Pichini S, Huestis MA, Papaseit E, Pérez-Mañá C, Busardò FP, Farré M. Methylone and MDMA Pharmacokinetics Following Controlled Administration in Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314636. [PMID: 36498963 PMCID: PMC9736016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to define, for the first time, human methylone and HMMC plasma pharmacokinetics following controlled administration of 50-200 mg methylone to 12 male volunteers. A new LC-MS/MS method was validated to quantify methylone, MDMA, and their metabolites in plasma. The study was a randomized, cross-over, double-blinded and placebo-controlled study, with a total of 468 plasma samples collected. First, 10 µL of MDMA-d5, MDA-d5 and methylone-d3 internal standards were added to 100 µL of plasma. Two mL of chloroform and ethyl acetate 9:1 (v/v) were then added, mixed well and centrifuged. The supernatant was fortified with 0.1 mL acidified methanol and evaporated under nitrogen. Samples were reconstituted with a mobile phase and injected into the LC-MS/MS instrument. The method was fully validated according to OSAC guidelines (USA). Methylone plasma concentrations increased in a dose-proportional manner, as demonstrated by the increasing maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve of concentrations (AUC). Methylone Cmax values were reported as 153, 304, 355 and 604 ng/mL, AUC0-24 values were reported as 1042.8, 2441.2, 3524.4 and 5067.9 h·ng/mL and T1/2 values as 5.8, 6.4, 6.9 and 6.4 h following the 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg doses, respectively. Methylone exhibited rapid kinetics with a Tmax of 1.5 h for the 50 mg dose and 2 h approximately after all the other doses. HMMC exhibited faster kinetics compared to methylone, with a Cmax value that was 10-14-fold lower and an AUC0-24 value that was 21-29-fold lower. Methylone pharmacokinetics was linear across 50-200 mg oral doses in humans, unlike the previously described non-linear oral MDMA pharmacokinetics. An LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of methylone, MDMA and their metabolites in human plasma was achieved. Methylone exhibited linear pharmacokinetics in humans with oral doses of 50-200 mg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Poyatos
- Servei de Farmacologia Clínica, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP, IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Alfredo Fabrizio Lo Faro
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy
| | - Diletta Berardinelli
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy
| | - Giorgia Sprega
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy
| | - Sara Malaca
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marilyn A. Huestis
- Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Esther Papaseit
- Servei de Farmacologia Clínica, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP, IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Clara Pérez-Mañá
- Servei de Farmacologia Clínica, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP, IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Department of Excellence-Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60121 Ancona, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0712206274
| | - Magí Farré
- Servei de Farmacologia Clínica, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP, IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain
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27
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Manke HN, Nelson KH, Huang S, Bailey JM, Bowman SK, Jones RA, Cerveny SE, Rice KC, Riley AL. Methylone pre-exposure differentially impacts the aversive effects of MDPV and MDMA in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats: Implications for abuse vulnerability. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 220:173470. [PMID: 36206863 PMCID: PMC9667388 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polydrug use is well documented in synthetic cathinone users, although the consequences of such use are not well characterized. In pre-clinical research, a pre-exposure to a drug has been reported to attenuate the aversive effects of other drugs which has implications for their abuse potential. The goal of the present study was to investigate the impact of pre-exposure to the synthetic cathinone methylone on the aversive effects of MDPV and MDMA. METHOD Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 10 mg/kg of methylone every 4th day (for a total of five injections) prior to taste avoidance training with 1.8 mg/kg of MDPV or 1 mg/kg of MDMA. RESULTS MDPV and MDMA induced taste avoidance in males and females (all p's < 0.05). In males, methylone pre-exposure attenuated the avoidance induced by MDPV and MDMA (all p's < 0.05) with the attenuation greater with MDPV. In females, methylone pre-exposure attenuated avoidance induced by MDPV (all p's < 0.05), but it had no effect on those induced by MDMA (all p's > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The effects of exposure to methylone on taste avoidance induced by MDPV and MDMA were drug- (MDPV > MDMA) and sex- (MDMA only in males) dependent. The attenuating effects of methylone pre-exposure on MDPV and MDMA were discussed in terms of their shared neurochemical action. These findings suggest that a history of methylone use may reduce the aversive effects of MDPV and MDMA which may have implications for polydrug use involving the synthetic cathinones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley N Manke
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA.
| | - Katharine H Nelson
- Reichel Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Shihui Huang
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Jacob M Bailey
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Sara K Bowman
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Robert A Jones
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA
| | - Sydney E Cerveny
- Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 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, Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Neuroscience, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA.
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Marszalek-Grabska M, Zakrocka I, Budzynska B, Marciniak S, Kaszubska K, Lemieszek MK, Winiarczyk S, Kotlinska JH, Rzeski W, Turski WA. Binge-like mephedrone treatment induces memory impairment concomitant with brain kynurenic acid reduction in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 454:116216. [PMID: 36057403 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
While mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone), a synthetic cathinone derivative, is widely abused by adolescents and young adults, the knowledge about its long-term effects on memory processes is limited. Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a neuroactive metabolite of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation. KYNA is considered an important endogenous modulator influencing physiological and pathological processes, including learning and memory processes. The aim of this study was to determine whether (A) binge-like mephedrone administration (10.0 and 30.0 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, in 4 doses separated by 2 h) induces memory impairments, assessed 2, 8 and 15 days after mephedrone cessation in the passive avoidance test in mice, and whether (B) KYNA is involved in these memory processes. To clarify the role of KYNA in the mephedrone effects, its level in the murine brain in vivo, and in cortical slices in vitro, as well as the activities of kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs) I and II were assessed. Furthermore, cell line experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of mephedrone on normal human brain cells. Our results showed memory impairments 8 and 15 days after binge-like mephedrone administration. At the same time, reduction in the KYNA level in the murine brain was noted. In vitro studies showed no effect of mephedrone on the production of KYNA in cortical slices or on the activity of the KAT I and II enzymes. Finally, exposure of normal cells to mephedrone in vitro resulted in a modest reduction of cell viability and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Marszalek-Grabska
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Izabela Zakrocka
- Department of Nephrology, Medical University, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Barbara Budzynska
- Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, Medical University, Chodzki 4a, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Sebastian Marciniak
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kaszubska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University, Chodzki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Marta Kinga Lemieszek
- Department of Medical Biology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Sylwia Winiarczyk
- Department of Medical Biology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jolanta H Kotlinska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University, Chodzki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Wojciech Rzeski
- Department of Medical Biology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; Department of Functional Anatomy and Cytobiology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Waldemar A Turski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, Jaczewskiego 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
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He K. Pharmacological affinity fingerprints derived from bioactivity data for the identification of designer drugs. J Cheminform 2022; 14:35. [PMID: 35672835 PMCID: PMC9171973 DOI: 10.1186/s13321-022-00607-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Facing the continuous emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and their threat to public health, more effective methods for NPS prediction and identification are critical. In this study, the pharmacological affinity fingerprints (Ph-fp) of NPS compounds were predicted by Random Forest classification models using bioactivity data from the ChEMBL database. The binary Ph-fp is the vector consisting of a compound’s activity against a list of molecular targets reported to be responsible for the pharmacological effects of NPS. Their performance in similarity searching and unsupervised clustering was assessed and compared to 2D structure fingerprints Morgan and MACCS (1024-bits ECFP4 and 166-bits SMARTS-based MACCS implementation of RDKit). The performance in retrieving compounds according to their pharmacological categorizations is influenced by the predicted active assay counts in Ph-fp and the choice of similarity metric. Overall, the comparative unsupervised clustering analysis suggests the use of a classification model with Morgan fingerprints as input for the construction of Ph-fp. This combination gives satisfactory clustering performance based on external and internal clustering validation indices.
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30
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Simão AY, Antunes M, Cabral E, Oliveira P, Rosendo LM, Brinca AT, Alves E, Marques H, Rosado T, Passarinha LA, Andraus M, Barroso M, Gallardo E. An Update on the Implications of New Psychoactive Substances in Public Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084869. [PMID: 35457736 PMCID: PMC9028227 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of new psychoactive substances has earned a great deal of attention, and several reports of acute poisoning and deaths have been issued involving, for instance, synthetic opiates. In recent years, there have been profound alterations in the legislation concerning consumption, marketing, and synthesis of these compounds; rapid alert systems have also been subject to changes, and new substances and new markets, mainly through the internet, have appeared. Their effects and how they originate in consumers are still mostly unknown, primarily in what concerns chronic toxicity. This review intends to provide a detailed description of these substances from the point of view of consumption, toxicokinetics, and health consequences, including case reports on intoxications in order to help researchers and public health agents working daily in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Y. Simão
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-284 Covilha, Portugal
| | - Mónica Antunes
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
- Serviço de Química e Toxicologia Forenses, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, Delegação do Sul, 1150-219 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Emanuel Cabral
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
| | - Patrik Oliveira
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
| | - Luana M. Rosendo
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
| | - Ana Teresa Brinca
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
| | - Estefânia Alves
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
| | - Hernâni Marques
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-284 Covilha, Portugal
| | - Tiago Rosado
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-284 Covilha, Portugal
| | - Luís A. Passarinha
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Departamento de Química, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Correspondence: (L.A.P.); (M.A.); (M.B.); (E.G.); Tel.: +351-275-329-001 (L.A.P. & E.G.); +55-800-042-0384 (M.A.); +351-21-881-1800 (M.B.)
| | - Maristela Andraus
- Chromatox/Dasa Laboratory Ltda. Sumaré, São Paulo 01259-000, Brazil
- Correspondence: (L.A.P.); (M.A.); (M.B.); (E.G.); Tel.: +351-275-329-001 (L.A.P. & E.G.); +55-800-042-0384 (M.A.); +351-21-881-1800 (M.B.)
| | - Mário Barroso
- Serviço de Química e Toxicologia Forenses, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, Delegação do Sul, 1150-219 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: (L.A.P.); (M.A.); (M.B.); (E.G.); Tel.: +351-275-329-001 (L.A.P. & E.G.); +55-800-042-0384 (M.A.); +351-21-881-1800 (M.B.)
| | - Eugenia Gallardo
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilha, Portugal; (A.Y.S.); (M.A.); (E.C.); (P.O.); (L.M.R.); (A.T.B.); (E.A.); (H.M.); (T.R.)
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia, UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-284 Covilha, Portugal
- Correspondence: (L.A.P.); (M.A.); (M.B.); (E.G.); Tel.: +351-275-329-001 (L.A.P. & E.G.); +55-800-042-0384 (M.A.); +351-21-881-1800 (M.B.)
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31
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Rudin D, McCorvy JD, Glatfelter GC, Luethi D, Szöllősi D, Ljubišić T, Kavanagh PV, Dowling G, Holy M, Jaentsch K, Walther D, Brandt SD, Stockner T, Baumann MH, Halberstadt AL, Sitte HH. (2-Aminopropyl)benzo[β]thiophenes (APBTs) are novel monoamine transporter ligands that lack stimulant effects but display psychedelic-like activity in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:914-923. [PMID: 34750565 PMCID: PMC8882185 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01221-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Derivatives of (2-aminopropyl)indole (API) and (2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (APB) are new psychoactive substances which produce stimulant effects in vivo. (2-Aminopropyl)benzo[β]thiophene (APBT) is a novel sulfur-based analog of API and APB that has not been pharmacologically characterized. In the current study, we assessed the pharmacological effects of six APBT positional isomers in vitro, and three of these isomers (3-APBT, 5-APBT, and 6-APBT) were subjected to further investigations in vivo. Uptake inhibition and efflux assays in human transporter-transfected HEK293 cells and in rat brain synaptosomes revealed that APBTs inhibit monoamine reuptake and induce transporter-mediated substrate release. Despite being nonselective transporter releasers like MDMA, the APBT compounds failed to produce locomotor stimulation in C57BL/6J mice. Interestingly, 3-APBT, 5-APBT, and 6-APBT were full agonists at 5-HT2 receptor subtypes as determined by calcium mobilization assays and induced the head-twitch response in C57BL/6J mice, suggesting psychedelic-like activity. Compared to their APB counterparts, ABPT compounds demonstrated that replacing the oxygen atom with sulfur results in enhanced releasing potency at the serotonin transporter and more potent and efficacious activity at 5-HT2 receptors, which fundamentally changed the in vitro and in vivo profile of APBT isomers in the present studies. Overall, our data suggest that APBT isomers may exhibit psychedelic and/or entactogenic effects in humans, with minimal psychomotor stimulation. Whether this unique pharmacological profile of APBT isomers translates into potential therapeutic potential, for instance as candidates for drug-assisted psychotherapy, warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Rudin
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Grant C Glatfelter
- Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dino Luethi
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dániel Szöllősi
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tea Ljubišić
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pierce V Kavanagh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, 8, Ireland
| | - Geraldine Dowling
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St. James Hospital, Dublin, 8, Ireland
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, Sligo Institute of Technology, Ash Lane, Sligo, Ireland
| | - Marion Holy
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kathrin Jaentsch
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Donna Walther
- Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Simon D Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
- Alexander Shulgin Research Institute, Lafayette, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Stockner
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael H Baumann
- Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Adam L Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Harald H Sitte
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Center for Addiction Research and Science-AddRess, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 13A, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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Poyatos L, Torres A, Papaseit E, Pérez-Mañá C, Hladun O, Núñez-Montero M, de la Rosa G, Torrens M, Fuster D, Muga R, Farré M. Abuse Potential of Cathinones in Humans: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11041004. [PMID: 35207278 PMCID: PMC8878365 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11041004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction and objective: Assessing the abuse potential of new substances with central nervous system activity is essential for preventing possible risks of misuse and addiction. The same methodology is recommended for the evaluation of the abuse potential of recreational drugs. This systematic review aims to assess the pharmacological effects related to the abuse potential and pharmacokinetics of cathinones, which are evaluated in both experimental and prospective observational studies in humans. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the published literature was conducted to retrieve studies that had administered cathinone, mephedrone, methylone, and diethylpropion to evaluate their acute pharmacological effects related to abuse potential. Results: The search yielded 583 results, 18 of which were included to assess the abuse potential of cathinone (n = 5), mephedrone (n = 7), methylone (n = 1), and diethylpropion (n = 5). All four substances induce stimulant and euphorigenic effects that resemble those of amphetamines and MDMA, and their different intensities may be associated with varying levels of abuse potential. Conclusions: Cathinone, mephedrone, methylone, and diethylpropion induce a range of desirable and reinforcing effects that may, to some extent, result in abuse potential. Further investigation is needed to minimize and prevent their impact on society and public health.
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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), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (O.H.); (M.N.-M.); (G.d.l.R.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
| | - Adrián Torres
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
| | - Esther Papaseit
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (O.H.); (M.N.-M.); (G.d.l.R.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
- Correspondence: (E.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Clara Pérez-Mañá
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (O.H.); (M.N.-M.); (G.d.l.R.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
| | - Olga Hladun
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (O.H.); (M.N.-M.); (G.d.l.R.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 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), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (O.H.); (M.N.-M.); (G.d.l.R.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 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), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (O.H.); (M.N.-M.); (G.d.l.R.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
| | - Marta Torrens
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
- Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Daniel Fuster
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (D.F.); (R.M.)
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Robert Muga
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (D.F.); (R.M.)
- Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Magí Farré
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (O.H.); (M.N.-M.); (G.d.l.R.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08913 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain;
- Correspondence: (E.P.); (M.F.)
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Alteration of Ethanol Reward by Prior Mephedrone Exposure: The Role of Age and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042122. [PMID: 35216236 PMCID: PMC8877998 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mephedrone, a synthetic cathinone, is widely abused by adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to determine: (i) whether prior mephedrone exposure would alter ethanol reward and (ii) whether age and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are important in this regard. In our research, male Wistar rats at postnatal day 30 (PND30) received mephedrone at the dose of 10 mg/kg, i.p., 3 times a day for 7 days. To clarify the role of MMP-9 in the mephedrone effects, one mephedrone-treated group received minocycline, as an MMP-9 antagonist. Animals were then assigned to conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure at PND38 (adolescent) or at PND69 (adult). After the CPP test (PND48/79), expression of dopamine D1 receptors (D1R), Cav1.2 (a subtype of L-type calcium channels), and MMP-9 was quantified in the rat ventral striatum (vSTR). The influence of mephedrone administration on the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDAR) subunits (GluN1, GluN2A, and GluN2B) was then assessed in the vSTR of adult rats (only). These results indicate that, in contrast with adolescent rats, adult rats with prior mephedrone administration appear to be more sensitive to the ethanol effect in the CPP test under the drug-free state. The mephedrone effect in adult rats was associated with upregulation of D1R, NMDAR/GluN2B, MMP-9, and Cav1.2 signaling. MMP-9 appears to contribute to these changes in proteins expression because minocycline pretreatment blocked mephedrone-evoked sensitivity to ethanol reward. Thus, our results suggest that prior mephedrone exposure differentially alters ethanol reward in adolescent and adult rats.
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Serefko A, Bielecka-Papierz G, Talarek S, Szopa A, Skałecki P, Szewczyk B, Radziwoń-Zaleska M, Poleszak E. Central Effects of the Designer Drug Mephedrone in Mice—Basic Studies. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12020189. [PMID: 35203952 PMCID: PMC8870446 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mephedrone belongs to the “party drugs” thanks to its psychostimulant effects, similar to the ones observed after amphetamines. Though mephedrone is used worldwide by humans and in laboratory animals, not all properties of this drug have been discovered yet. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to expand the knowledge about mephedrone’s activity in living organisms. A set of behavioral tests (i.e., measurement of the spontaneous locomotor activity, rotarod, chimney, elevated plus maze with its modification, novel object recognition, and pentylenetetrazol seizure tests) were carried out in male albino Swiss mice. Different dose ranges of mephedrone (0.05–5 mg/kg) were administered. We demonstrated that mephedrone at a dose of 5 mg/kg rapidly increased the spontaneous locomotor activity of the tested mice and its repeated administration led to the development of tolerance to these effects. Mephedrone showed the anxiolytic-like potential and improved spatial memory, but it did not affect recognition memory. Moreover, the drug seemed not to have any anticonvulsant or proconvulsant activity. In conclusion, mephedrone induces many central effects. It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and peaks in the brain quickly after exposure. Our experiment on inducing a hyperlocomotion effect showed that mephedrone‘s effects are transient and lasted for a relatively short time.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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;
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (G.B.-P.); (E.P.)
| | - Gabriela Bielecka-Papierz
- Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (G.B.-P.); (E.P.)
| | - Sylwia Talarek
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, 4a 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;
| | - Piotr Skałecki
- Department of Commodity Science and Processing of Raw Animal Materials, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka Street, 20-950 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Bernadeta Szewczyk
- Department of Neurobiology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 12 Smętna Street, 31-343 Kraków, 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;
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (G.B.-P.); (E.P.)
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Warner-Schmidt J, Pittenger C, Stogniew M, Mandell B, Olmstead SJ, Kelmendi B. Methylone, a rapid acting entactogen with robust anxiolytic and antidepressant-like activity. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1041277. [PMID: 36704743 PMCID: PMC9873307 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1041277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants represent first-line pharmacological treatment for a variety of neuropsychiatric illnesses, including major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which show high rates of comorbidity. SSRIs have a delayed onset of action. Most patients do not show significant effects until 4-8 weeks of continuous treatment, have impairing side effects and as many as 40% of patients do not respond. Methylone (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone; MDMC, βk-MDMA, M1) is a rapid-acting entactogen that showed significant benefit in a clinical case series of PTSD patients and was well-tolerated in two Phase 1 studies of healthy volunteers. Based on these early observations in humans, in the current study we tested the hypothesis that methylone has antidepressant-like and anxiolytic effects in preclinical tests. METHODS For all studies, 6-8-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats (N = 6-16) were used. We employed the Forced Swim Test (FST), a classic and widely used screen for antidepressants, to explore the effects of methylone and to probe dose-response relationships, durability of effect, and potential interactions with combined SSRI treatment. We compared the effect of methylone with the prototypical SSRI fluoxetine. RESULTS Three doses of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) given within 24 h before FST testing caused a 50% reduction in immobility compared with controls that lasted less than 24 h. In contrast, a single dose of methylone (5-30 mg/kg) administered 30 min prior to testing produced a rapid, robust, and durable antidepressant-like response in the FST, greater in magnitude than fluoxetine. Immobility was reduced by nearly 95% vs. controls and effects persisted for at least 72 h after a single dose (15 mg/kg). Effects on swimming and climbing behavior in the FST, which reflect serotonergic and noradrenergic activity, respectively, were consistent with studies showing that methylone is less serotoninergic than MDMA. Fluoxetine pretreatment did not change methylone's antidepressant-like effect in the FST, suggesting the possibility that the two may be co-administered. In addition, methylone (5-30 mg/kg) exhibited anxiolytic effects measured as increased time spent in the center of an open field. DISCUSSION Taken together, and consistent with initial clinical findings, our study suggests that methylone may have potential for treating depression and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Benjamin Kelmendi
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.,Clinical Neurosciences Division, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD, West Haven, CT, United States
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López-Arnau R, Camarasa J, Carbó ML, Nadal-Gratacós N, Puigseslloses P, Espinosa-Velasco M, Urquizu E, Escubedo E, Pubill D. 3,4-Methylenedioxy methamphetamine, synthetic cathinones and psychedelics: From recreational to novel psychotherapeutic drugs. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:990405. [PMID: 36262632 PMCID: PMC9574023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.990405] [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: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The utility of classical drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics) is often limited by issues of lack of efficacy, delayed onset of action or side effects. Psychoactive substances have a long history of being used as tools to alter consciousness and as a gateway to approach the unknown and the divinities. These substances were initially obtained from plants and animals and more recently by chemical synthesis, and its consumption evolved toward a more recreational use, leading to drug abuse-related disorders, trafficking, and subsequent banning by the authorities. However, these substances, by modulation of certain neurochemical pathways, have been proven to have a beneficial effect on some psychiatric disorders. This evidence obtained under medically controlled conditions and often associated with psychotherapy, makes these substances an alternative to conventional medicines, to which in many cases the patient does not respond properly. Such disorders include post-traumatic stress disease and treatment-resistant depression, for which classical drugs such as MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin and LSD, among others, have already been clinically tested, reporting successful outcomes. The irruption of new psychoactive substances (NPS), especially during the last decade and despite their recreational and illicit uses, has enlarged the library of substances with potential utility on these disorders. In fact, many of them were synthetized with therapeutic purposes and were withdrawn for concrete reasons (e.g., adverse effects, improper pharmacological profile). In this review we focus on the basis, existing evidence and possible use of synthetic cathinones and psychedelics (specially tryptamines) for the treatment of mental illnesses and the properties that should be found in NPS to obtain new therapeutic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl López-Arnau
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Camarasa
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marcel Lí Carbó
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Nadal-Gratacós
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Pharmaceutical Chemistry Group (GQF), IQS School of Engineering, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pol Puigseslloses
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Espinosa-Velasco
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Edurne Urquizu
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Escubedo
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Pubill
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
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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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Overlap and Specificity in the Substrate Spectra of Human Monoamine Transporters and Organic Cation Transporters 1, 2, and 3. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312816. [PMID: 34884618 PMCID: PMC8657982 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human monoamine transporters (MATs) are cation transporters critically involved in neuronal signal transmission. While inhibitors of MATs have been intensively studied, their substrate spectra have received far less attention. Polyspecific organic cation transporters (OCTs), predominantly known for their role in hepatic and renal drug elimination, are also expressed in the central nervous system and might modulate monoaminergic signaling. Using HEK293 cells overexpressing MATs or OCTs, we compared uptake of 48 compounds, mainly phenethylamine and tryptamine derivatives including matched molecular pairs, across noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin transporters and OCTs (1, 2, and 3). Generally, MATs showed surprisingly high transport activities for numerous analogs of neurotransmitters, but their substrate spectra were limited by molar mass. Human OCT2 showed the broadest substrate spectrum, and also the highest overlap with MATs substrates. Comparative kinetic analyses revealed that the radiotracer meta-iodobenzylguanidine had the most balanced uptake across all six transporters. Matched molecular pair analyses comparing MAT and OCT uptake using the same methodology could provide a better understanding of structural determinants for high cell uptake by MATs or OCTs. The data may result in a better understanding of pharmacokinetics and toxicokinetics of small molecular organic cations and, possibly, in the development of more specific radiotracers for MATs.
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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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Poyatos L, Papaseit E, Olesti E, Pérez-Mañá C, Ventura M, Carbón X, Grifell M, Fonseca F, Torrens M, de la Torre R, Farré M. A Comparison of Acute Pharmacological Effects of Methylone and MDMA Administration in Humans and Oral Fluid Concentrations as Biomarkers of Exposure. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10080788. [PMID: 34440023 PMCID: PMC8389614 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Methylone is a synthetic cathinone that is usually used as a substitute for conventional psychostimulants, such as MDMA. Chemically, methylone is considered the β-keto analogue of MDMA, with which it presumably shares similar pharmacological effects. To date, the available data about the human pharmacology of methylone in humans are very scarce and are mainly derived from user experiences, published in internet forums or intoxication reports. Thus, an observational–naturalistic study was conducted to evaluate the acute pharmacological effects and determine biomarkers of exposure in oral fluid of methylone after oral self-administration in comparison to MDMA. Methylone induced the prototypical psychostimulant and empathogenic effects commonly associated with MDMA, although they were of lower intensity. Oral fluid concentrations of methylone can be considered a suitable biomarker of acute exposure, and oral fluid has been proven to be a useful biological matrix of detection. Abstract Considered the β-keto analogue of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), 3,4-Methylenedioxymethcathinone (methylone) is a synthetic cathinone. Over the years, methylone has been used as a substitute for conventional psychostimulants, such as MDMA. To date, little is known about the human pharmacology of methylone; the only available information has been provided by surveys or published intoxication reports. In the present observational–naturalistic study, we evaluate the acute subjective and physiological effects of methylone after oral self-administration in comparison to MDMA in healthy poly-drug users. Fourteen participants (10 males, 4 females) selected their single oral doses of methylone from 100 to 300 mg (n = 8, mean dose 187.5 mg) or MDMA from 75 to 100 mg (n = 6, mean dose 87.5 mg) based on their experience. Study variables were assessed at 0, 1, 2, and 4 h (h) and included vital signs (non-invasive blood pressure, heart rate, cutaneous temperature) and subjective effects using visual analogue scales (VAS), the 49-item Addiction Research Centre Inventory (ARCI) short form, and the Evaluation of the Subjective Effects of Substances with Abuse Potential (VESSPA-SSE) questionnaire. Additionally, oral fluid concentrations of methylone and MDMA were determined. Acute pharmacological effects produced by methylone followed the prototypical psychostimulant and empathogenic profile associated with MDMA, although they were less intense. Methylone concentrations in oral fluid can be considered a useful biomarker to detect acute exposure in oral fluid. Oral fluid concentrations of MDMA and methylone peaked at 2 h and concentrations of MDMA were in the range of those previously described in controlled studies. Our results demonstrate that the potential abuse liability of methylone is similar to that of MDMA in recreational subjects.
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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), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (M.F.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Esther Papaseit
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (M.F.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Eulalia Olesti
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (E.O.); (R.d.l.T.)
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Pérez-Mañá
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (M.F.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
| | - Mireia Ventura
- Energy Control, Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.); (X.C.); (M.G.)
| | - Xoán Carbón
- Energy Control, Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.); (X.C.); (M.G.)
| | - Marc Grifell
- Energy Control, Associació Benestar i Desenvolupament, 08041 Barcelona, Spain; (M.V.); (X.C.); (M.G.)
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain; (F.F.); (M.T.)
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francina Fonseca
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain; (F.F.); (M.T.)
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Torrens
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain; (F.F.); (M.T.)
- Institut de Neuropsiquiatria i Adiccions (INAD), Parc de Salut Mar, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (E.O.); (R.d.l.T.)
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (CEXS-UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Magí Farré
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTiP-IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Spain; (L.P.); (C.P.-M.); (M.F.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Spain
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Seaman RW, Doyle MR, Sulima A, Rice KC, Collins GT. Discriminative stimulus effects of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and structurally related synthetic cathinones. Behav Pharmacol 2021; 32:357-367. [PMID: 33587482 PMCID: PMC8266731 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000624] [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] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and other structurally related synthetic cathinones, are popular alternatives to prototypical illicit psychostimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamine. These drugs are often referred to as 'bath salts' and function either as cocaine-like inhibitors of monoamine uptake, or amphetamine-like substrates for dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin transporters. These studies used male Sprague-Dawley rats trained to discriminate MDPV from saline to evaluate the substitution profiles of structurally related synthetic cathinones, cocaine, and other direct-acting dopamine and noradrenergic receptor agonists in order to characterize the relative contributions of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin to the discriminative stimulus effects of MDPV. As expected, each of the cathinones and cocaine dose-dependently increased MDPV-appropriate responding, with a rank-order potency that was positively correlated with their potency to inhibit dopamine and norepinephrine, but not serotonin, a relationship that is consistent with the rank order to maintain self-administration. The dopamine D2/3 receptor-preferring agonist quinpirole produced a modest increase in MDPV-appropriate responding, whereas the dopamine D1/5 receptor agonist, SKF 82958, nonselective dopamine receptor agonist, apomorphine, as well as the α-1, and α-2 adrenergic receptor agonists, phenylephrine and clonidine, respectively, failed to increase MDPV-appropriate responding at doses smaller than those that suppressed responding altogether. Although these studies do not support a role for serotonergic or adrenergic systems in mediating/modulating the discriminative stimulus effects of MDPV, convergent evidence is provided to suggest that the discriminative stimulus effects of MDPV are primarily mediated by its capacity to inhibit dopamine uptake, and the subsequent activation of dopamine D2 or D3 receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Seaman
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Research Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Michelle R Doyle
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Research Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Agnieszka Sulima
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, NIDA- and NIAAA-Intramural Research Programs, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Drug Design and Synthesis Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, NIDA- and NIAAA-Intramural Research Programs, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregory T Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Research Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
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Kolaczynska KE, Thomann J, Hoener MC, Liechti ME. The Pharmacological Profile of Second Generation Pyrovalerone Cathinones and Related Cathinone Derivative. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158277. [PMID: 34361040 PMCID: PMC8348686 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyrovalerone cathinones are potent psychoactive substances that possess a pyrrolidine moiety. Pyrovalerone-type novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are continuously detected but their pharmacology and toxicology are largely unknown. We assessed several pyrovalerone and related cathinone derivatives at the human norepinephrine (NET), dopamine (DAT), and serotonin (SERT) uptake transporters using HEK293 cells overexpressing each respective transporter. We examined the transporter-mediated monoamine efflux in preloaded cells. The receptor binding and activation potency was also assessed at the 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors. All pyrovalerone cathinones were potent DAT (IC50 = 0.02-8.7 μM) and NET inhibitors (IC50 = 0.03-4.6 μM), and exhibited no SERT activity at concentrations < 10 μM. None of the compounds induced monoamine efflux. NEH was a potent DAT/NET inhibitor (IC50 = 0.17-0.18 μM). 4F-PBP and NEH exhibited a high selectivity for the DAT (DAT/SERT ratio = 264-356). Extension of the alkyl chain enhanced NET and DAT inhibition potency, while presence of a 3,4-methylenedioxy moiety increased SERT inhibition potency. Most compounds did not exhibit any relevant activity at other monoamine receptors. In conclusion, 4F-PBP and NEH were selective DAT/NET inhibitors indicating that these substances likely produce strong psychostimulant effects and have a high abuse liability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina E. Kolaczynska
- Division of Psychopharmacology Research, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (K.E.K.); (J.T.)
| | - Jan Thomann
- Division of Psychopharmacology Research, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (K.E.K.); (J.T.)
| | - Marius C. Hoener
- Neuroscience Research, pRED, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., 4070 Basel, Switzerland;
| | - Matthias E. Liechti
- Division of Psychopharmacology Research, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (K.E.K.); (J.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: + 41-61-328-68-68
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In Vitro and In Vivo Pharmaco-Toxicological Characterization of 1-Cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene Derivatives in Mice: Comparison with Tramadol and PCP. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147659. [PMID: 34299276 PMCID: PMC8306156 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
1-cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene is a novel psychoactive substance (NPS), first discovered in Europe in 2012 as unknown racemic mixture of its three stereoisomers: ortho, meta and para. Each of these has structural similarities with the analgesic tramadol and the dissociative anesthetic phencyclidine. In light of these structural analogies, and based on the fact that both tramadol and phencyclidine are substances that cause toxic effects in humans, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo pharmacodynamic profile of these molecules, and to compare them with those caused by tramadol and phencyclidine. In vitro studies demonstrated that tramadol, ortho, meta and para were inactive at mu, kappa and delta opioid receptors. Systemic administration of the three stereoisomers impairs sensorimotor responses, modulates spontaneous motor activity, induces modest analgesia, and alters thermoregulation and cardiorespiratory responses in the mouse in some cases, with a similar profile to that of tramadol and phencyclidine. Naloxone partially prevents only the visual sensorimotor impairments caused by three stereoisomers, without preventing other effects. The present data show that 1-cyclohexyl-x-methoxybenzene derivatives cause pharmaco-toxicological effects by activating both opioid and non-opioid mechanisms and suggest that their use could potentially lead to abuse and bodily harm.
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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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Rudin D, Liechti ME, Luethi D. Molecular and clinical aspects of potential neurotoxicity induced by new psychoactive stimulants and psychedelics. Exp Neurol 2021; 343:113778. [PMID: 34090893 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
New psychoactive stimulants and psychedelics continue to play an important role on the illicit new psychoactive substance (NPS) market. Designer stimulants and psychedelics both affect monoaminergic systems, although by different mechanisms. Stimulant NPS primarily interact with monoamine transporters, either as inhibitors or as substrates. Psychedelic NPS most potently interact with serotonergic receptors and mediate their mind-altering effects mainly through agonism at serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine-2A (5-HT2A) receptors. Rarely, designer stimulants and psychedelics are associated with potentially severe adverse effects. However, due to the high number of emerging NPS, it is not possible to investigate the toxicity of each individual substance in detail. The brain is an organ particularly sensitive to substance-induced toxicity due to its high metabolic activity. In fact, stimulant and psychedelic NPS have been linked to neurological and cognitive impairments. Furthermore, studies using in vitro cell models or rodents indicate a variety of mechanisms that could potentially lead to neurotoxic damage in NPS users. Cytotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress may potentially contribute to neurotoxicity of stimulant NPS in addition to altered neurochemistry. Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor-mediated toxicity, oxidative stress, and activation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathways could contribute to neurotoxicity of some psychedelic NPS. However, it remains unclear how well the current preclinical data of NPS-induced neurotoxicity translate to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Rudin
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias E Liechti
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dino Luethi
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Institute of Applied Physics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.
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Centazzo N, Chojnacki MR, Elmore JS, Rodriguez R, Acosta T, Suzuki M, Rice KC, Baumann MH, Concheiro M. Brain Concentrations of Methylone and Its Metabolites after Systemic Methylone Administration: Relationship to Pharmacodynamic Effects. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 377:398-406. [PMID: 33785525 PMCID: PMC11058058 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone (methylone) is a new psychoactive substance with stimulant properties and potential for abuse. Despite its popularity, limited studies have examined relationships between brain concentrations of methylone, its metabolites, and pharmacodynamic effects. The goal of the present study was 2-fold: 1) to determine pharmacokinetics of methylone and its major metabolites-4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-N-methylcathinone (HMMC), 3,4-dihydroxy-N-methylcathinone (HHMC), and 3,4-methylenedioxycathinone (MDC)-in rat brain and plasma and 2) to relate brain pharmacokinetic parameters to pharmacodynamic effects including locomotor behavior and postmortem neurochemistry. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received subcutaneous methylone (6, 12, or 24 mg/kg) or saline vehicle (n = 16/dose), and subgroups were decapitated after 40 or 120 minutes. Plasma and prefrontal cortex were analyzed for concentrations of methylone and its metabolites by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Frontal cortex and dorsal striatum were analyzed for dopamine, 5-HT, and their metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection. Brain and plasma concentrations of methylone and its metabolites rose with increasing methylone dose, but brain methylone and MDC concentrations were greater than dose-proportional. Brain-to-plasma ratios for methylone and MDC were ≥ 3 (range 3-12), whereas those for HHMC and HMMC were ≤ 0.2 (range 0.01-0.2). Locomotor activity score was positively correlated with brain methylone and MDC, whereas cortical 5-HT was negatively correlated with these analytes at 120 minutes. Our findings show that brain concentrations of methylone and MDC display nonlinear accumulation. Behavioral and neurochemical effects of systemically administered methylone are related to brain concentrations of methylone and MDC but not its hydroxylated metabolites, which do not effectively penetrate into the brain. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Behavioral and neurochemical effects of methylone are related to brain concentrations of methylone and its metabolite MDC but not its hydroxylated metabolites, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-N-methylcathinone and 3,4-dihydroxy-N-methylcathinone, which do not effectively penetrate into the brain. Methylone and MDC display nonlinear accumulation in the brain, which could cause untoward effects on serotonin neurons in vulnerable brain regions, including the frontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Centazzo
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
| | - Michael R Chojnacki
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
| | - Joshua S Elmore
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
| | - Raider Rodriguez
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
| | - Teeshavi Acosta
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
| | - Masaki Suzuki
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
| | - Kenner C Rice
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
| | - Michael H Baumann
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
| | - Marta Concheiro
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York (N.C., R.R., T.A., M.C.); Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, Maryland (M.R.C., J.S.E., M.H.B.); and Drug Design and Synthesis Section, IRP, NIDA, NIH, Rockville, Maryland (M.S., K.C.R.)
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Lin Z, Liu C, Fan E, Zhang Y, Zheng S, Rao Y. An efficient and label-free LC-MS/MS method for assessing drug's activity at dopamine and serotonin transporters using transporter-transfected HEK293T cells. J Psychopharmacol 2021; 35:693-700. [PMID: 33888022 DOI: 10.1177/02698811211008576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dopamine transporter (DAT) and serotonin transporter (SERT) are targets for many psychoactive substances. Functional assays including uptake inhibition and release assays often involve radiolabeled compounds like [3H]-dopamine and [3H]-serotonin to assess drug activity at transporters, which have high requirements on handling radioactive samples. AIMS The aim of this study was to establish a label-free method to assess drug activity at DAT and SERT. METHODS A liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was established using transporter-transfected human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells. This method was evaluated by testing the effects of amphetamine and cocaine in the assay procedure. RESULTS The limits of detection of this method were 0.2 nM for both dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT), with good linearities in the range of 0.5-160 nM. Amphetamine and cocaine's IC50 and EC50 on DAT and SERT determined by this method were consistent with previous reports. CONCLUSIONS A rapid, reliable and label-free LC-MS/MS method for assessing drug activity was established, which affords an attractive alternative for those laboratories that do not have a radiation license or capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zebin Lin
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Center for Quantitative Biology (CQB), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenyang Liu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Center for Quantitative Biology (CQB), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Enshan Fan
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yurong Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Institute of Forensic Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuiqing Zheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Institute of Forensic Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yulan Rao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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48
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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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49
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Oeri HE. Beyond ecstasy: Alternative entactogens to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine with potential applications in psychotherapy. J Psychopharmacol 2021; 35:512-536. [PMID: 32909493 PMCID: PMC8155739 DOI: 10.1177/0269881120920420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The last two decades have seen a revival of interest in the entactogen 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) as an adjunct to psychotherapy, particularly for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. While clinical results are highly promising, and MDMA is expected to be approved as a treatment in the near future, it is currently the only compound in its class of action that is being actively investigated as a medicine. This lack of alternatives to MDMA may prove detrimental to patients who do not respond well to the particular mechanism of action of MDMA or whose treatment calls for a modification of MDMA's effects. For instance, patients with existing cardiovascular conditions or with a prolonged history of stimulant drug use may not fit into the current model of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, and could benefit from alternative drugs. This review examines the existing literature on a host of entactogenic drugs, which may prove to be useful alternatives in the future, paying particularly close attention to any neurotoxic risks, neuropharmacological mechanism of action and entactogenic commonalities with MDMA. The substances examined derive from the 1,3-benzodioxole, cathinone, benzofuran, aminoindane, indole and amphetamine classes. Several compounds from these classes are identified as potential alternatives to MDMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Emanuel Oeri
- Hans Emanuel Oeri, University of Victoria,
3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
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50
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Grotell M, den Hollander B, Jalkanen A, Törrönen E, Ihalainen J, de Miguel E, Dudek M, Kettunen MI, Hyytiä P, Forsberg MM, Kankuri E, Korpi ER. Alcohol Co-Administration Changes Mephedrone-Induced Alterations of Neuronal Activity. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:679759. [PMID: 33995109 PMCID: PMC8115874 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.679759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mephedrone (4-MMC), despite its illegal status, is still a widely used psychoactive substance. Its effects closely mimic those of the classical stimulant drug methamphetamine (METH). Recent research suggests that unlike METH, 4-MMC is not neurotoxic on its own. However, the neurotoxic effects of 4-MMC may be precipitated under certain circumstances, such as administration at high ambient temperatures. Common use of 4-MMC in conjunction with alcohol raises the question whether this co-consumption could also precipitate neurotoxicity. A total of six groups of adolescent rats were treated twice daily for four consecutive days with vehicle, METH (5 mg/kg) or 4-MMC (30 mg/kg), with or without ethanol (1.5 g/kg). To investigate persistent delayed effects of the administrations at two weeks after the final treatments, manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging brain scans were performed. Following the scans, brains were collected for Golgi staining and spine analysis. 4-MMC alone had only subtle effects on neuronal activity. When administered with ethanol, it produced a widespread pattern of deactivation, similar to what was seen with METH-treated rats. These effects were most profound in brain regions which are known to have high dopamine and serotonin activities including hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen. In the regions showing the strongest activation changes, no morphological changes were observed in spine analysis. By itself 4-MMC showed few long-term effects. However, when co-administered with ethanol, the apparent functional adaptations were profound and comparable to those of neurotoxic METH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milo Grotell
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bjørnar den Hollander
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aaro Jalkanen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Essi Törrönen
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jouni Ihalainen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Elena de Miguel
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mateusz Dudek
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko I Kettunen
- Kuopio Biomedical Imaging Unit, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Petri Hyytiä
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus M Forsberg
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Esko Kankuri
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Esa R Korpi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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