Abstract

Multiple administrations of methcathinone caused persistent deficits in monoaminergic systems, as reflected by decreases in dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake capacity, tissue content and associated rate-limiting synthetic enzyme activities. Because dopamine has been implicated in mediating such effects after administration of related amphetamine analogs, its role in effecting methcathinone-induced monoaminergic neuronal impairment was assessed. A single high-dose administration of methcathinone increased striatal dopamine release, as measured by microdialysis in conscious rats and reflected by increases in striatal neurotensin-like immunoreactivity. Dopaminergic deficits observed 18 hr after a multiple-dose treatment with methcathinone were prevented by pretreatment with the selective D₁ antagonist SCH23390 and D₂ receptor antagonist eticlopride, but 5-hydroxytryptaminergic deficits were not altered. 5-Hydroxytryptaminergic changes did not occur in animals depleted of striatal dopamine by 6-hydroxydopamine lesions. These results indicate that dopaminergic systems are profoundly affected by methcathinone administration and that dopamine likely contributes to the monoaminergic effects of this stimulant.