Pharmaco-Toxicological Effects of Atypical Synthetic Cathinone Mephtetramine (MTTA) in Mice: Possible Reasons for Its Brief Appearance over NPSs Scene

Abstract

Over the last year, NPSs have been steadily on the rise in the illicit drug market. Among these, synthetic cathinones seem to become increasingly popular among young adults, mainly because of their ability to replicate the effects of traditional psychostimulant drugs, such as cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines. However, scarce data are available about the in vivo pharmaco-toxicology of these new substances. To this end, this study focused on evaluation of effects induced by repeated administration of mephtetramine (MTTA 0.1–30 mg/kg i.p.) in mice. This atypical cathinone highlighted a sensorial (inhibition of visual and acoustic reflexes) and transient physiological parameter (decrease in breath rate and temperature) change in mice. Regarding motor activity, both a dose-dependent increase (accelerod test) and biphasic effect (drag and mobility time test) have been shown. In addition, blood and urine samples have been analysed to enrich the experimental featuring of the present study with reference to evaluation of potential toxicity related to consumption of MTTA. The latter analysis has particularly revealed important changes in blood cells count and blood and urine physicochemical profile after repeated treatment with this atypical cathinone. Moreover, MTTA induced histological changes in heart, kidney and liver samples, emphasizing its potential toxicity.

Genotoxicity Evaluation of The Novel Psychoactive Substance MTTA

“…One recent in vivo study considered the pharmaco-toxicological effects induced by MTTA following repeated administrations in mice, possibly confirming the mild stimulant profile of this atypical cathinone. Sensorial inhibition, a transient decrease in breath rate and body temperature and both a dose-dependent increase and biphasic effect on locomotor activity were pointed out for the first time; furthermore, important changes in the blood cells count and blood and urine physicochemical profile, as well as histological changes in heart, kidney and liver samples, were revealed in blood and urine samples from the same animals [ 16 ].…”