Abstract
The drastic increase in hallucinogenic compounds in illicit drug markets of new psychoactive substances (NPS) is a worldwide threat. Among these, 2, 5-dimetoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine (DOB) and paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA; marketed as “ecstasy”) are frequently purchased on the dark web and consumed for recreational purposes during rave/dance parties. In fact, these two substances seem to induce the same effects as MDMA, which could be due to their structural similarities. According to users, DOB and PMA share the same euphoric effects: increasing of the mental state, increasing sociability and empathy. Users also experienced loss of memory, temporal distortion, and paranoia following the repetition of the same thought. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the acute systemic administration of DOB and PMA (0.01–30 mg/kg; i.p.) on motor, sensorimotor (visual, acoustic, and tactile), and startle/PPI responses in CD-1 male mice. Moreover, the pro-psychedelic effect of DOB (0.075–2 mg/kg) and PMA (0.0005–0.5 mg/kg) was investigated by using zebrafish as a model. DOB and PMA administration affected spontaneous locomotion and impaired behaviors and startle/PPI responses in mice. In addition, the two compounds promoted hallucinatory states in zebrafish by reducing the hallucinatory score and swimming activity in hallucinogen-like states.
Highlights
In recent years, novel psychoactive substances (NPS) have emerged in response to legislative control and market trends [1]
The purpose of this study is to evaluate in vivo the acute sensorimotor alteration and hallucinogenic properties, typical of phenethylamine and amphetamine-like compounds in the classical murine and the zebrafish models
Visual object response did not change in vehicle-treated mice in 5 h of observation (Figure 2, panels A and C), and the effect was similar to that observed in naïve untreated animals
Summary
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) have emerged in response to legislative control and market trends [1]. NPS, known as designer drugs, bath salts, or legal highs, are analogous or derivatives of controlled substances. Since 2012, the number of NPS seized in Europe has rapidly increased [2]. The large demand for stimulants and hallucinogens such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3, 4-metyhlendioxy methamphetamine (MDMA/Ecstasy), and LSD increased their production and trafficking in many EU Member States. The local synthesis and distribution of these substances limited their prohibition. Brain Sci. 2020, 10, 586; doi:10.3390/brainsci10090586 www.mdpi.com/journal/brainsci
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