1
|
Espinosa-Velasco M, Reguilón MD, Bellot M, Nadal-Gratacós N, Berzosa X, Puigseslloses P, Gómez-Canela C, Rodríguez-Arias M, Pubill D, Camarasa J, Escubedo E, López-Arnau R. Behavioural and neurochemical effects after repeated administration of N-ethylpentylone (ephylone) in mice. J Neurochem 2021; 160:218-233. [PMID: 34816436 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
N-ethyl-pentylone (NEP), also known as 'ephylone' and N-ethylnorpentylone, has been identified as one of the most recent novel psychostimulants to emerge into the illicit drug market and it has been associated with some intoxications and even fatalities. However, little is known about the consequences of its repeated consumption as well as the role of the monoaminergic system in such consequences. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the neurochemical profile and the behavioural effects after both acute and repeated NEP exposure. Male OF1 mice were acutely (1, 3, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) or repeatedly (1, 3, 10 mg/kg, i.p., 5 days, twice/day) exposed to NEP, and anxiety-like behaviour, aggressiveness, social interaction, depressive-like symptoms, body temperature, changes in monoaminergic enzymes and neurotransmitters levels as well as ΔFosB in striatum and prefrontal cortex (PFC) from post-mortem tissue were analysed short after drug-exposure or during drug-withdrawal. Acute administration of NEP induced anxiolytic effects but also an aggressive behaviour and social exploration deficits in mice, which persist during NEP-withdrawal. Moreover, NEP induced hyperthermia as well as depressive-like symptoms after repeated administrations that may be related to the decrease in serotonin and noradrenaline levels observed in striatum and PFC. Finally, the long-term increase in ΔFosB levels in striatum after NEP chronic exposure points to a high risk of dependence. Altogether indicates that NEP consumption induces different neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders accompanied by changes in the monoaminergic system, posing a threat to public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Espinosa-Velasco
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina D Reguilón
- Unit of Research Psychobiology of Drug Dependence, Department of Psychobiology, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marina Bellot
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Applied (Chromatography Section), School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià - Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Nadal-Gratacós
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Pharmaceutical Chemistry Group (GQF), IQS School of Engineering, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Berzosa
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Group (GQF), IQS School of Engineering, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pol Puigseslloses
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Pharmaceutical Chemistry Group (GQF), IQS School of Engineering, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristian Gómez-Canela
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Applied (Chromatography Section), School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià - Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Rodríguez-Arias
- Unit of Research Psychobiology of Drug Dependence, Department of Psychobiology, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - David Pubill
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Camarasa
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Escubedo
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl López-Arnau
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacology Section, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|