Dopamine Concentration Changes Associated with the Retrodialysis of Methylone and 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) into the Caudate Putamen.

Structural modifications to synthetic psychoactive cathinones (SPCs), a class of drugs that contain a β-keto modification of the phenethylamine pharmacophore of amphetamine, induce differences in dopamine transporter (DAT) activity. Here, in vivo retrodialysis was utilized to deliver the SPCs 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV, a DAT inhibitor) or methylone (a DAT substrate) into the caudate putamen of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Dialysate samples were collected prior to and post drug administration, and temporal changes in dopamine concentration were quantified using HPLC-EC methods.

Influence of adrenalectomy on the gut microbiome and MDMA-induced hyperthermia.

The increased use of the stimulant drug, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), more commonly known as Ecstasy, Molly or X, has been linked to the development of life-threatening hyperthermia in human and animal models. The current study aimed to investigate the role of the gut-adrenal axis in MDMA-induced hyperthermia by assessing the influence of the acute exogenous supplementation with norepinephrine (NE) or corticosterone (CORT) to adrenalectomized (ADX) rats following MDMA administration. MDMA (10 mg/kg, sc) resulted in significant increase of body temperature in SHAM animals compared to ADX animals at 30-, 60- and 90-min timepoints post-MDMA treatment.

Influence of fecal microbial transplant (FMT) between male and female rats on methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia.

Objective: To investigate the effect of bidirectional fecal microbial transplant (FMT) between male and female rats on methamphetamine (MA)-induced hyperthermia.

Methods: FMT was performed between male and female rats prior to MA (10 mg/kg, sc) treatment. Core body temperature, plasma drug and norepinephrine (NE) levels were measured and compared between treatment groups.

Reversal of temperature responses to methylone mediated through bi-directional fecal microbiota transplantation between hyperthermic tolerant and naïve rats.

The synthetic cathinone ("bath salt") methylone induces a hyperthermia response and with chronic administration tolerance to this hyperthermia has been reported. The microbiome-gut-brain axis has been implicated in multiple bodily systems and pathologies, and intentional manipulation of the gut-microbiome has yielded clinically significant results. Here, we examined the effects of bi-directional Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) between methylone-induced hyperthermic tolerant (MHT) and methylone-naïve (MN) rats.

Potential Contribution of the Intestinal Microbiome to Phenethylamine-Induced Hyperthermia.

Phenethylamines (e.g., methamphetamine) are a common source of drug toxicity.