title: Anticataleptic activity of cathinone and MDMA (Ecstasy) upon acute and subchronic administration in rat.
abstract: It was recently demonstrated that acute administration of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphet-amine (MDMA, "Ecstasy") is capable of counteracting haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats. The present study was done with another psychostimulant, S-(-)-cathinone. In these experiments, 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats, 225 +/- 25 g, were used. They were divided into three groups. All groups received 0.5 mg/kg haloperidol in normal saline (s.c.) as a first injection. Then 30 min later each group received either isotonic phosphate-buffered saline, 1 mg/kg S-(-)-cathinone, or 2.5 mg/kg (RS)-MDMA (s.c.) as a second injection. The results of descent latency on both the horizontal bar and vertical grid showed that S-(-)-cathinone or (RS)-MDMA upon acute administration induces a strong anticataleptic activity (P < 0.0001) compared to rats treated with haloperidol plus vehicle. The effect of both drugs was later masked upon subchronic administration (days 2-7, 26-29). This is probably due to sensitization of cataleptic behavior. However, when the same groups of rats were tested on day 8 in a different task, i.e., open-field, they showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). The detailed mechanism of the observed strong anticataleptic activity of S-(-)-cathinone (which is considered a potent dopamine releaser) requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, Department of Neuropharmacology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28E, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Mehret Yerdaw
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Banjaw
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayerhofer
authors.forename: Werner J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000470:Alkaloids; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; C023665:cathinone; D006220:Haloperidol; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine