title: Cathinone increases body temperature, enhances locomotor activity, and induces striatal c-fos expression in the Siberian hamster.
abstract: Cathinone is a β-keto alkaloid that is the major active constituent of khat, the leaf of the Catha edulis plant that is chewed recreationally in East Africa and the Middle East. Related compounds, such as methcathinone and mephedrone have been increasing in popularity as recreational drugs, resulting in the recent proposal to classify khat as a Class C drug in the UK. There is still limited knowledge of the pharmacological effects of cathinone. This study examined the acute effects of cathinone on core body temperature, locomotor and other behaviors, and neuronal activity in Siberian hamsters. Adult male hamsters, previously implanted with radio telemetry devices, were treated with cathinone (2 or 5mg/kg i.p.), the behavioral profile scored and core body temperature and locomotor activity recorded by radio telemetry. At the end of the study, hamsters received vehicle or cathinone (5mg/kg) and neuronal activation in the brain was determined using immunohistochemical evaluation of c-fos expression. Cathinone dose-dependently induced significant (p<0.0001) increases in both temperature and locomotor activity lasting 60-90min. Cathinone (2mg/kg) increased rearing (p<0.02), and 5mg/kg increased both rearing (p<0.001) and lateral head twitches (p<0.02). Both cathinone doses decreased the time spent at rest (p<0.001). The number of c-fos immunopositive cells were significantly increased in the striatum (p<0.0001) and suprachiasmatic nucleus (p<0.05) following cathinone, indicating increased neuronal activity. There was no effect of cathinone on food intake or body weight. It is concluded that systemic administration of cathinone induces significant behavioral changes and CNS activation in the hamster.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. Electronic address: joness141@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Fileccia
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Shortall
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wigmore
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: K C F
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Fone
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: F J P
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ebling
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017111:Phodopus; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; C023665:cathinone
keywords: C-fos; Cathinone; Hyperthermia; Khat; Locomotor activity; Striatum