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The new designer drug buphedrone produces rewarding properties via dopamine D1 receptor activation
Author(s) -
Oh JiHwan,
Hwang JiYoung,
Hong SaIk,
Ma ShiXun,
Seo JeeYeon,
Lee SeokYong,
Kim HyoungChun,
Jang ChoonGon
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/adb.12472
Subject(s) - raclopride , nucleus accumbens , conditioned place preference , dopaminergic , dopamine , pharmacology , striatum , dopamine receptor , dopamine receptor d2 , addiction , dopamine receptor d1 , psychology , chemistry , neuroscience , medicine
Substituted cathinones are synthetic analogs of the active components of natural products and are widely abused worldwide. However, the rewarding properties of these agents have not yet been evaluated. In this study, we investigated the abuse potential of buphedrone [2‐(methylamino)‐1‐phenylbutan‐1‐one, α‐methylamino‐butyrophenone] and its effects on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system in mice using conditioned place preference (CPP) analysis, a self‐administration test, a locomotor activity test, a behavioral sensitization test and Western blot analysis. Treatment with buphedrone supported CPP and self‐administration, enhanced locomotor activity and produced behavioral sensitization when mice were challenged with methamphetamine. SCH23390, a D1 dopamine antagonist, prevented buphedrone‐induced CPP, whereas raclopride, a D2 dopamine antagonist, had no effect. SCH23390 also blocked locomotor activity increase by buphedrone, while raclopride partially attenuated locomotor activation. Western blot analysis revealed that repeated buphedrone treatment increased D1 dopamine receptor expression in the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens in mice. Collectively, these findings suggest the abuse potential of buphedrone and demonstrate the involvement of the dopaminergic system in the establishment of its rewarding properties.