Abstract
Rationale
The use of synthetic cathinones as recreational drugs frequently sold in combination has been increasing exponentially. However, the consequences of combining cathinones on the resulting stimulant effects and the pharmacokinetics have been poorly investigated.
Objective and methods
To study 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV; 3 mg/kg) and mephedrone (4-MMC; 30 mg/kg)-induced effects on rat locomotor activity and pharmacokinetics, administered alone or in combination by the intragastric route. The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using non-compartmental analysis and the relationships between the locomotor activity and drug concentrations using sigmoidal Emax modeling.
Results
Locomotor activity significantly increased during the first hour post-administration with the MDPV/4-MMC combination in comparison to MDPV (p < 0.001) and 4-MMC (p < 0.01) alone. The pharmacokinetic profile of MDPV, but not 4-MMC, was significantly modified with the combination resulting in decreases in Cmax (16.4 ± 5.5 versus 62.2 ± 14.2 μg/L, p < 0.05) and AUC0 → ∞ (708 ± 91 versus 3316 ± 682 μg/L/min, p < 0.01) and increases in V/F (582.6 ± 136.8 versus 115.9 ± 42.7 L/kg, p < 0.05) and Cl/F (4.6 ± 0.7 versus 1.2 ± 0.4 L/kg/min, p < 0.01) in comparison to MDPV alone. The sigmoidal Emax model fitted the observed data well; MDPV being markedly more potent than 4-MMC (EC50, 0.043 versus 0.7 μmol/L). The enhancing factor representing the MDPV contribution to the alteration in the relationships between locomotor activity and 4-MMC concentrations was 0.3.
Conclusion
An MDPV/4-MMC combination results in enhanced stimulant effects in the rat, despite significant reduction in MDPV bioavailability. Enhanced effects could be explained by increased MDPV distribution and/or possible complementation at the brain dopaminergic targets. However, the exact consequences of the MDPV/4-MMC combination in humans remain to be clarified.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Animal Platform, CRP2—UMS 3612 CNRS—US25 Inserm-IRD—Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France, for their technical assistance. They would like also to thank Mrs. Alison Good (Scotland, UK) for her helpful review of the manuscript.
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Support was provided solely from institutional and departmental sources from the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM).
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All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Paris-Descartes University and by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (N° CEEA34.NB.127.12)
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Benturquia, N., Chevillard, L., Poiré, C. et al. Is the 3,4-methylendioxypyrovalerone/mephedrone combination responsible for enhanced stimulant effects? A rat study with investigation of the effect/concentration relationships. Psychopharmacology 236, 891–901 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-4962-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-4962-0