Neurotoxicology
May 1, 2018
Anne Zwartsen, Laura Hondebrink, Remco Hs Westerink
42 citations
All eight new psychoactive substances (PMMA, α-PVP, methylone, MDPV, 2C-B, 25B-NBOMe, BZP, TFMPP) and two classic illicit drugs (cocaine, methamphetamine) rapidly and concentration-dependently decreased the weighted mean firing rate and weighted mean burst rate of rat primary cortical cultures grown on multi-well microelectrode arrays during a 30-minute acute exposure. Cocaine most potently inhibited firing (IC50 9.8 μM), while methamphetamine and PMMA were much less potent (IC50 100 μM and 112 μM). Among cathinones, MDPV and α-PVP had comparable IC50 values (29 μM and 21 μM), but methylone was 10-fold less potent (IC50 235 μM).
Neurotoxicology
September 1, 2019
Anne Zwartsen, Laura Hondebrink, Remco Hs Westerink
22 citations
The effects of several new psychoactive substances (NPS) and illicit drugs on neuronal activity were tested in rat brain cells grown on microelectrode arrays. After 30 minutes of exposure, all compounds reduced neuronal activity in a dose-dependent manner. Extending exposure to 5 hours did not cause further decreases. After a 19-hour washout period, activity fully recovered only for methamphetamine, cocaine, and benzylpiperazine; partially recovered for MDMA, PMMA, and α-PVP; and did not recover at the highest concentrations of MDPV, 2C-B, 25B-NBOMe, and TFMPP. Low concentrations of methylone and 2C-B actually increased activity after washout. The ability of neural networks to regain activity after drug exposure appears unrelated to drug class or potency. Complete recovery was rare, which is concerning.
Neurotoxicology
March 1, 2022
María Eva González-Trujano, Felix Krengel, Ricardo Reyes-Chilpa et al.
14 citations
A hydroalcoholic extract of Tabernaemontana arborea and its alkaloids ibogaine and voacangine altered brain electrical activity in mice. The extract at 56.2 and 100 mg/kg and ibogaine at 30 mg/kg increased delta and reduced alpha EEG band power, indicating central nervous system depression. Voacangine at 30 mg/kg flattened EEG patterns. None of the treatments modified seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole, but the extract at 100 mg/kg combined with the convulsant caused sudden death. Paroxysmal EEG activity from the extract and ibogaine was explored; a serotonin 5-HT1A receptor antagonist blocked the extract's but not ibogaine's paroxysmal activity, implicating serotonin neurotransmission in the extract's excitatory effects.
Neurotoxicology
May 1, 2025
Giulia Tomagra, Nikita Gandlevskiy, Elena Rosso et al.
3 citations
Cannabis sativa contains many minor cannabinoids beyond THC and CBD, and their effects on neuronal activity are not fully understood. In cultured hippocampal neurons, standard THC alone or combined with CBD significantly reduced spontaneous firing and burst generation, while CBD alone had no effect. Extracts from Cannabis sativa showed that cannabidivarin (CBDV), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, reversed the inhibition of firing caused by the THC-CBD mixture. When applied alone, CBDV increased neuronal firing. All effects returned to baseline within 24 hours. These results suggest CBDV can counteract the suppressive effect of THC and CBD on neuronal activity.
Neurotoxicology
January 14, 2026
Martin Macháček, Markéta Bébarová
1 citation
Seizures caused by synthetic cathinones and phenethylamines often involve more than just serotonin and sympathomimetic toxicity. A systematic review of 42 intoxication cases found that nearly half of the patients died, with higher fatality among cathinone users. While monoaminergic toxidromes were common, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral edema, hypoglycemia, and hyponatremia also contributed to seizures in several cases. These additional, potentially treatable causes suggest that prompt assessment for brain injury and metabolic disturbances could improve outcomes.