The new stimulant designer compound pentedrone exhibits rewarding properties and affects dopaminergic activity.
Cathinone derivatives are new recreational drugs known to produce psychostimulant effects. However, unlike other psychostimulants, the addictive potential of cathinone derivatives has not been widely studied. Here, we investigated the effects of pentedrone, a type of cathinone derivative, on the dopaminergic system using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. We also evaluated the addictive potential of pentedrone using conditioned place preference and self-administration. We found that pentedrone increased the mRNA expression of dopamine 1 receptor, dopamine 2 receptor and dopamine transporter, as well as induced phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein in PC-12 cells. Additionally, pentedrone at 3 and 10 mg/kg significantly increased conditioned place preference in mice, while pentedrone at 0.3 mg/kg/infusion significantly increased self-administration in rats. Finally, we found that acute administration of pentedrone enhanced locomotor activity in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these data suggest that the addictive properties of pentedrone may be due to its effects on the dopaminergic system.
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Ji-Young
JY
Hwang
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Jun-Sub
JS
Kim
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Ji-Hwan
JH
Oh
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Sa-Ik
SI
Hong
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Shi-Xun
SX
Ma
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Yang-Hee
YH
Jung
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Yong-Hyun
YH
Ko
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Seok-Yong
SY
Lee
Neurotoxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Korea Institute of Drug Abuse, Kangwon National University, Korea.
Hyoung-Chun
HC
Kim
Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea.
Choon-Gon
CG
Jang
D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008744:Methylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D010422:Pentanones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012201:Reward
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015198:Designer Drugs; D008744:Methylamines; D010422:Pentanones; C572410:pentedrone; D004298:Dopamine
Cathinone; conditioned place preference; dopamine; pentedrone; self-administration