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Monoaminergic toxicity induced by cathinone phthalimide: An in vitro study
Susan M Lantz1, Hector Rosas-Hernandez1, Elvis Cuevas1
1Neurochemistry Laboratory, Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, 3900 NCTR Rd, HFT-132, Jefferson, AR, 72079, United States.
Neuroscience Letters
|July 8, 2017
Summary
Cathinone phthalimide (CP), a novel synthetic cathinone, causes cell death and alters neurotransmitter levels, similar to mephedrone. Further research is needed to understand its full neurotoxic potential.
Area of Science:
- Neuropharmacology
- Toxicology
- Synthetic Cathinone Research
Background:
- Synthetic cathinones, known as "bath salts," mimic cocaine and amphetamines by affecting serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA).
- New cathinone derivatives, like cathinone phthalimide (CP), are developed to circumvent drug regulations, necessitating urgent toxicological assessment.
- Limited data exists on CP's effects on monoaminergic systems, prompting this investigation into its acute toxicity profile.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the acute toxicity profile of cathinone phthalimide (CP) across a range of concentrations (10µM–1000µM).
- To determine if CP primarily impacts dopamine and serotonin systems, akin to mephedrone and methylone, or predominantly dopamine, like MDPV.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pheochromocytoma cells to assess the toxicological effects of CP.
- Measured cell viability, mitochondrial function, and intracellular levels of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) following CP exposure.
- Assessed the impact of CP on reduced glutathione (GSH) levels.
Main Results:
- CP exposure induced significant cell death in pheochromocytoma cells.
- CP altered mitochondrial function and intracellular levels of both dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT).
- Reduced glutathione (GSH) levels remained unaffected by CP treatment.
Conclusions:
- The observed effects of CP on DA and 5-HT suggest it functions similarly to mephedrone and methylone.
- CP exhibits acute toxicity, impacting cellular function and neurotransmitter balance.
- Further studies are required to investigate CP metabolites, hyperthermia-induced neurotoxicity, and blood-brain barrier penetration.
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