OPEN Foundation

B. Blough

The psychoactive aminoalkylbenzofuran derivatives, 5-APB and 6-APB, mimic the effects of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) on monoamine transmission in male rats

September 1, 2020 / Chemistry, MDMA, Neuroscience, Other subjects, Other substances, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications, Safety, Toxicology / By / , , , , ,

Abstract

Rationale: The nonmedical use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is a worldwide public health concern. The so-called “benzofury” compounds, 5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (5-APB) and 6-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran (6-APB), are NPS with stimulant-like properties in human users. These substances are known to interact with monoamine transporters and 5-HT receptors in transfected cells, but less is known about their effects in animal models.

Methods: Here, we used in vitro monoamine transporter assays in rat brain synaptosomes to characterize the effects of 5-APB and 6-APB, together with their N-methyl derivatives 5-MAPB and 6-MAPB, in comparison with 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). In vivo neurochemical and behavioral effects of 5-APB (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, i.v.) and 6-APB (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, i.v.) were assessed in comparison with MDA (1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg, i.v.) using microdialysis sampling in the nucleus accumbens of conscious male rats.

Results: All four benzofuran derivatives were substrate-type releasers at dopamine transporters (DAT), norepinephrine transporters (NET), and serotonin transporters (SERT) with nanomolar potencies, similar to the profile of effects produced by MDA and MDMA. However, the benzofurans were at least threefold more potent than MDA and MDMA at evoking transporter-mediated release. Like MDA, both benzofurans induced dose-related elevations in extracellular dopamine and serotonin in the brain, but benzofurans were more potent than MDA. The benzofuran derivatives also induced profound behavioral activation characterized by forward locomotion which lasted for at least 2 h post-injection.

Conclusions: Overall, benzofurans are more potent than MDA in vitro and in vivo, producing sustained stimulant-like effects in rats. These data suggest that benzofuran-type compounds may have abuse liability and could pose risks for adverse effects, especially if used in conjunction with abused drugs or medications which enhance monoamine transmission in the brain.

Brandt, S. D., Walters, H. M., Partilla, J. S., Blough, B. E., Kavanagh, P. V., & Baumann, M. H. (2020). The psychoactive aminoalkylbenzofuran derivatives, 5-APB and 6-APB, mimic the effects of 3, 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) on monoamine transmission in male rats. Psychopharmacology, 237(12), 3703-3714; 10.1007/s00213-020-05648-z

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Effects of the synthetic psychedelic 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) on ethanol consumption and place conditioning in male mice.

July 15, 2019 / Addiction, New substances, Other substances, Papers, Psychiatry, Psychology, Psychopharmacology, Psychotherapy, Publications / By / , , , ,

Abstract

RATIONALE:
Approximately 20 million adults in the USA have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). There are clinical and preclinical data suggesting that psychedelics may have benefits for AUD.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of the synthetic psychedelic 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) on the behavioral effects of ethanol.
METHODS:
The effects of DOI were examined using ethanol-induced place conditioning (1.8 g/kg ethanol) and 2-bottle choice ethanol drinking (20% v/v), using a dose of DOI (3 mg/kg) that produced the maximal response in the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor-dependent head-twitch assay. Interactions between DOI and ethanol (3 g/kg) were examined using the ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex procedure and blood-ethanol analysis. To examine additional mechanisms by which psychedelics may interact with ethanol, we determined whether DOI reverses ethanol-induced nitric oxide release in macrophages, a marker of inflammation.
RESULTS:
DOI significantly attenuated ethanol-induced place conditioning and ethanol drinking. DOI-induced suppression of alcohol drinking depended upon 5-HT2A receptors, was selective for alcohol over water, and was selective for high alcohol-preferring subjects. DOI had no apparent pharmacokinetic interactions with ethanol, and DOI reduced ethanol-induced nitric oxide release.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings demonstrate that DOI blocks ethanol place conditioning and selectively reduces voluntary ethanol consumption. This may be related to modulation of the effects of ethanol in the reward circuitry of the brain, ethanol-induced neuroinflammation, or a combination of both. Additional studies to elucidate the mechanisms through which psychedelics attenuate the effects of ethanol would inform the pathophysiology of AUD and potentially provide new treatment options.
Oppong-Damoah, A., Curry, K. E., Blough, B. E., Rice, K. C., & Murnane, K. S. (2019). Effects of the synthetic psychedelic 2, 5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) on ethanol consumption and place conditioning in male mice. Psychopharmacology, 1-12., https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-019-05328-7
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Comparative neuropharmacology of N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (NBOMe) hallucinogens and their 2C counterparts in male rats

March 1, 2018 / Neuroscience, New substances, Other substances, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By / , , , , , ,

Abstract

2,5-Dimethoxyphenethylamines (2C compounds) are 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonists that induce hallucinogenic effects. N-methoxybenzylation of 2C compounds markedly increases their affinity for 5-HT2A receptors, and two such analogs, 2-(4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine (25C-NBOMe) and 2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine (25I-NBOMe), have emerged in recreational drug markets. Here, we investigated the neuropharmacology of 25C-NBOMe and 25I-NBOMe in rats, as compared to their 2C analogs and the prototypical 5-HT2A/2C agonist 1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)propan-2-amine (DOI). Compounds were tested in vitro using 5-HT2A receptor binding and calcium mobilization assays. For in vivo experiments, 25C-NBOMe (0.01-0.3 mg/kg), 25I-NBOMe (0.01-0.3 mg/kg), 2-(4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2C-C) (0.1-3.0 mg/kg), 2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanamine (2C-I) (0.1-3.0 mg/kg) and DOI (0.03-1.0 mg/kg) were administered subcutaneously (sc) to male rats, and 5-HT2A-mediated behaviors were assessed. NBOMes displayed higher affinity for 5-HT2A receptors than their 2C counterparts but were substantially weaker in functional assays. 25C-NBOMe and 25I-NBOMe were much more potent at inducing wet dog shakes (WDS) and back muscle contractions (BMC) when compared to 2C-C and 2C-I. Pretreatment with the selective 5-HT2A antagonist (R)-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl){1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl]-4-piperidinyl}methanol (M100907) reversed behaviors produced by all agonists. Interestingly, binding affinities at the 5-HT2A receptor were significantly correlated with potencies to induce BMC but not WDS. Our findings show that NBOMes are highly potent 5-HT2A agonists in rats, similar to effects in mice, and consistent with the reported hallucinogenic effects in human users.
Elmore, J. S., Decker, A. M., Sulima, A., Rice, K. C., Partilla, J. S., Blough, B. E., & Baumann, M. H. (2018). Comparative neuropharmacology of N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2, 5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (NBOMe) hallucinogens and their 2C counterparts in male rats. Neuropharmacology. 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.033
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Interaction of psychoactive tryptamines with biogenic amine transporters and serotonin receptor subtypes

May 7, 2014 / DMT, LSD, MDMA, Mushrooms / Psilocybin, Other subjects, Papers, Psychopharmacology, Publications / By / , , , , ,

Abstract

Rationale
Synthetic hallucinogenic tryptamines, especially those originally described by Alexander Shulgin, continue to be abused in the USA. The range of subjective experiences produced by different tryptamines suggests that multiple neurochemical mechanisms are involved in their actions, in addition to the established role of agonist activity at serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors.

Objectives
This study evaluated the interaction of a series of synthetic tryptamines with biogenic amine neurotransmitter transporters and with serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes implicated in psychedelic effects.

Methods
Neurotransmitter transporter activity was determined in rat brain synaptosomes. Receptor activity was determined using calcium mobilization and DiscoveRx PathHunter® assays in HEK293, Gα16-CHO, and CHOk1 cells transfected with human receptors.

Results
Twenty-one tryptamines were analyzed in transporter uptake and release assays, and 5-HT2A, serotonin 1A (5-HT1A), and 5-HT2A β-arrestin functional assays. Eight of the compounds were found to have 5-HT-releasing activity. Thirteen compounds were found to be 5-HT uptake inhibitors or were inactive. All tryptamines were 5-HT2A agonists with a range of potencies and efficacies, but only a few compounds were 5-HT1A agonists. Most tryptamines recruited β-arrestin through 5-HT2A activation.

Conclusions
All psychoactive tryptamines are 5-HT2A agonists, but 5-HT transporter (SERT) activity may contribute significantly to the pharmacology of certain compounds. The in vitro transporter data confirm structure-activity trends for releasers and uptake inhibitors whereby releasers tend to be structurally smaller compounds. Interestingly, two tertiary amines were found to be selective substrates at SERT, which dispels the notion that 5-HT-releasing activity is limited only to primary or secondary amines.

Blough, B. E., Landavazo, A., Decker, A. M., Partilla, J. S., Baumann, M. H., & Rothman, R. B. (2014). Interaction of psychoactive tryptamines with biogenic amine transporters and serotonin receptor subtypes. Psychopharmacology, 231(21), 4135-4144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3557-7
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30 April - Q&A with Rick Strassman

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