Neurotoxic Effects of 5-MeO-DIPT: A Psychoactive Tryptamine Derivative in Rats
Neurotoxicity Research – July 26, 2016
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
5-Methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DIPT), a popular hallucinogen, significantly alters neurotransmitter levels in the brain. At doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, it increased dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate release across various regions, including the nucleus accumbens and striatum. Notably, oxidative DNA damage persisted for up to 60 days post-treatment, highlighting its neurotoxic potential. Additionally, the drug induced head-twitch responses and enhanced forepaw treading, suggesting that its hallucinogenic effects are linked to serotonin receptor activation, particularly at 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A sites.
Abstract
5-Methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DIPT, 'foxy') is one of the most popular tryptamine hallucinogens in the illicit drug market. It produces serious adverse effects, but its pharmacological profile is not well recognized. In vitro data have shown that 5-MeO-DIPT acts as a potent serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitor and displays high affinity at serotonin 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT2C receptors. In this study, using microdialysis in freely moving rats, we examined the effect of 5-MeO-DIPT on dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and glutamate release in the rat striatum, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex. In search of a possible neurotoxic effect of 5-MeO-DIPT, we measured DA and 5-HT tissue content in the above rat brain regions and also determined the oxidative DNA damage with the comet assay. Moreover, we tested drug-elicited head-twitch response and a forepaw treading induced by 8-OH-DPAT. 5-MeO-DIPT at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg increased extracellular DA, 5-HT, and glutamate level but the differences in the potency were found between brain regions. 5-MeO-DIPT increased 5-HT and decreased 5-HIAA tissue content which seems to result from SERT inhibition. On the other hand, a decrease in DA, DOPAC, and HVA tissue contents suggests possible adaptive changes in DA turnover or damage of DA terminals by 5-MeO-DIPT. DNA single and double-strand breaks persisted up to 60 days after the treatment, indicating marked neurotoxicity of 5-MeO-DIPT. The induction of head-twitch response and potentiation of forepaw treading induced by 8-OH-DPAT indicate that hallucinogenic activity seems to be mediated through the stimulation of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors by 5-MeO-DIPT.