Locomotor and discriminative stimulus effects of three benzofuran compounds in comparison to abused psychostimulants
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.