Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports
August 10, 2023
Rebecca D. Hill, Ritu A. Shetty, Nathalie Sumien et al.
4 citations
Three synthetic benzofurans—5-APDB, 5-MAPB, and 6-APB—were tested in mice and rats to compare their behavioral effects with MDMA, cocaine, and methamphetamine. In mice, 6-APB produced strong locomotor stimulation 20 to 50 minutes after injection, while 5-MAPB caused modest stimulation, and 5-APDB initially depressed then modestly stimulated activity. All three compounds were more potent than MDMA. In rats trained to discriminate MDMA from saline, all three benzofurans fully substituted for MDMA, indicating similar subjective effects. Only 5-MAPB fully substituted for cocaine, and none fully substituted for methamphetamine. The findings suggest these benzofurans may have abuse liability as substitutes for MDMA.
Frontiers in pharmacology
January 1, 2026
Michael B Gatch, Shuping Jia, Ritu A Shetty et al.
Two synthetic cathinones found on the street, N-cyclohexyl butylone and N-cyclohexyl methylone, were tested for their psychostimulant effects in mice and rats. Both compounds stimulated locomotor activity in mice, but were less potent and less effective than methamphetamine. In rats trained to discriminate methamphetamine or cocaine from saline, N-cyclohexyl butylone fully substituted for those drugs, suggesting it could produce similar psychoactive effects and motivate illicit use. N-cyclohexyl methylone failed to fully substitute for methamphetamine or cocaine and caused convulsions at higher doses, indicating greater danger but possibly lower abuse liability. Neither compound substituted for MDMA. The large N-cyclohexyl chemical group likely reduced the drugs' effectiveness, but a longer side chain in N-cyclohexyl butylone may have counteracted this.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
April 4, 2025
Rebecca D Hill, Ritu A Shetty, Nathalie Sumien et al.
Three new synthetic tryptamines—5-MeO-DBT, 5-Cl-DMT, and 4-OH-MiPT—were tested in mice and rats for their effects on movement and their ability to mimic the hallucinogen DOM. All three produced depressant phases similar to DOM but were less potent. In rats trained to discriminate DOM, only 4-OH-MiPT fully substituted for DOM, suggesting it shares DOM's abuse potential, while 5-MeO-DBT and 5-Cl-DMT did not fully substitute and decreased response rates.