Neurotoxicological profile of the hallucinogenic compound 25I-NBOMe.
Scientific reports – February 21, 2022
Source: PubMed
Summary
A potent hallucinogen, 25I-NBOMe, readily penetrates the brain, accumulating after repeated use and causing cellular harm. Within 72 hours of chronic exposure, DNA damage was detected in brain tissue. While immediate cell death signals were absent, a decrease in vital brain support cells was observed in the frontal and medial prefrontal cortex. This suggests that 25I-NBOMe's accumulation and resulting oxidative DNA damage can lead to the demise of these critical support cells, potentially compromising brain health.
Abstract
4-Iodo-2,5-dimethoxy-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)phenethylamine (25I-NBOMe) is a new psychoactive substance with strong hallucinogenic properties. Our previous data reported increased release of dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate after acute injections and a tolerance development in the neurotransmitters release and rats' behavior after chronic treatment with 25I-NBOMe. The recreational use of 25I-NBOMe is associated with severe intoxication and deaths in humans. There is no data about 25I-NBOMe in vivo toxicity towards the brain tissue. In this article 25I-NBOMe-crossing through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the impact on DNA damage, apoptosis induction, and changes in the number of cortical and hippocampal cells were studied. The presence of 25I-NBOMe in several brain regions shortly after the drug administration and its accumulation after multiple injections was found. The DNA damage was detected 72 h after the chronic treatment. On the contrary, at the same time point apoptotic signal was not identified. A decrease in the number of glial but not in neural cells in the frontal (FC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was observed. The obtained data indicate that 25I-NBOMe passes easily across the BBB and accumulates in the brain tissue. Observed oxidative DNA damage may lead to the glial cells' death.