N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, an methylenedioxymethamphetamine derivative, exhibits rewarding and reinforcing effects by increasing dopamine levels.
Dong-Hyun Youn, Cheolmin Jo, Jin Mook Kim, Young-Ki Hong, Wonjong Lee, Seong Hye Park, Chan Hyeok Kwon, Sun-Ok Choi
Behavioral neuroscience October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000593 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA new chemical, t-BOC-3,4-MDMA, is a modified form of MDMA that can evade detection in the illicit drug market and can be converted into the controlled substance MDMA. In mice, a 5 mg/kg dose of t-BOC-3,4-MDMA significantly altered place preference, indicating rewarding effects, and at 0.5 mg/kg/infusion it induced drug-taking behavior in self-administration tests. Microdialysis in rats showed that the chemical increased dopamine levels in the striatum. These findings suggest that t-BOC-3,4-MDMA has potential for misuse.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice and rats |
| Interventions | t-BOC-3 4-MDMA |
| Dose | 5 mg/kg (intraperitoneal) for climbing and conditioned place preference; 0.5 mg/kg/infusion (intravenous) for self-administration |
| Duration | 2-hour self-administration sessions |
| Keywords | Drug abuse Neuroscience Addiction research Substance misuse Pharmacology |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | t-BOC-3,4-MDMA has misuse potential, as shown by its rewarding and reinforcing properties in mice and its impact on dopamine levels in rats. |
Abstract
An N-protected methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (t-BOC-3,4-MDMA), contains tert-butoxycarbonyl and can remain undetected in the illicit drug market. It is a new type of precursor substance that is not a chemical intermediate and can be converted into a controlled substance, MDMA, by deprotection of the N-tert-butoxycarbonyl group. Categorization of this chemical into a precursor or psychotropic substance is an issue because it is an unprecedented precursor that could have misuse potential. Although MDMA causes rewarding and reinforcing effect through dopaminergic transmission, the misuse potential of t-BOC-3,4-MDMA has not yet been characterized. Here, we aim to evaluate the misuse potential of t-BOC-3,4-MDMA. The response to the drug at a dose of 5 mg/kg was determined by a climbing test, and its rewarding and reinforcing properties were assessed through conditioned place preference and self-administration tests. In the conditioned place preference test, intraperitoneal administration of t-BOC-3,4-MDMA (5 mg/kg) significantly altered place preference in mice. In the self-administration models, t-BOC-3,4-MDMA induced drug-taking behavior at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg/infusion (intravenous) during 2 hr sessions under fixed-ratio schedules in mice. In addition, microdialysis experiments verified that t-BOC-3,4-MDMA impacted the dopamine levels of the brain (striatum) of rats. These experimental results indicate that t-BOC-3,4-MDMA has a potential for misuse. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).