Responses of the extrapyramidal and limbic substance P systems to ibogaine and cocaine treatments.
European journal of pharmacology February 25, 2000 M E Alburges, B P Ramos, L Bush et al. 21 citations
Ibogaine, a compound from the West African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, and cocaine both increased substance P—a key signaling molecule—in brain regions associated with movement and reward, specifically the striatum and substantia nigra, 12 hours after the last drug treatment. Substance P levels were not significantly raised in the nucleus accumbens by either drug. These increases were blocked by antagonists of dopamine D1 or D2 receptors, indicating involvement of dopamine pathways. Unlike cocaine, multiple doses of ibogaine did not raise substance P in the frontal cortex. The findings suggest substance P systems may contribute to the effects of ibogaine and cocaine.