Effect of (-)-cathinone, a khat leaf constituent, on dopaminergic firing and dopamine metabolism in the rat brain.
The effect of (-)-cathinone (CAT), an alkaloid from khat leaves, on brain dopamine (DA) metabolism and on the firing rate of nigral DA neurons was studied in rats, in comparison with that of d-amphetamine. Like d-amphetamine, CAT (8-40 mg/kg i.p.) decreased DOPAC levels in the caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex, without modifying DA concentrations. CAT showed approximately one fifth of the potency of d-amphetamine in this effect. CAT, injected i.v. to unanesthetized, paralyzed rats, inhibited the firing rate of DA neurons in the substantia nigra, pars compacta, showing a similar potency to that of d-amphetamine in this respect. CAT-induced inhibition of dopaminergic firing was reversed by haloperidol.
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000502:physiology
D000470:Alkaloids; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; C023665:cathinone; D003913:Dextroamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine