Synthetic Cathinones and Neurotoxicity Risks: A Systematic Review

Daziani, Gloria; Faro, Alfredo Fabrizio Lo; Montana, Vincenzo; Goteri, Gaia; Pesaresi, Mauro; Bambagiotti, Giulia; Montanari, Eva; Giorgetti, Raffaele; Montana, Angelo

doi:10.3390/ijms24076230

Cited by 26 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 123 publications

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“…After six days, the patient was pronounced dead [ 23 ]. In relation to the abovementioned, having been described as an adverse reaction to the abuse of synthetic cathinones, it can be expected that serotonin syndrome could potentially develop in individuals who abuse 3-MMC [ 50 , 51 ].…”

Section: Key Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metaphedrone (3-Methylmethcathinone): Pharmacological, Clinical, and Toxicological Profile

Kelečević,

Vejnović,

Javorac

et al. 2024

Medicina

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Introduction: Synthetic cathinones are a group of novel psychoactive substances used as an alternative to classical recreational drugs. As a result of legal prohibitions on older generations of these compounds, new formulations appeared on the drug market. One of them is metaphedrone (3-methylmethcathinone, 3-MMC), a structural isomer of 4-methylmethcathinone and a psychostimulant drug. Metaphedrone became popular in a large number of countries in a short period of time. The aim: The collection, analysis, and review of relevant research on the subject of metaphedrone in order to present information about the pharmacological, clinical, and toxicological profile of this compound. An assessment of the significance and role of metaphedrone in consumption patterns of novel psychoactive substances among recreational drug users. Methodology: By using search engines like Google Scholar and PubMed, the relevant literature on metaphedrone was looked for and analyzed. The search was not limited to a specific period of time. All information regarding the compound of interest was analyzed and presented. Key results and discussion: All novel psychoactive substances are abused due to their pronounced stimulatory, hallucinogenic, dissociative, and euphoric and/or relaxing characteristics. Users of 3-methylmethcathinone usually opt for this substance for recreational purposes and/or sexual stimulation. Metaphedrone has the potential to cause a psychological dependence to the users. It was determined in relevant studies that most users are from 17 to 50 years of age. Older users usually administer metaphedrone intravenously, while younger ones usually choose snorting and oral ingestion of the drug. In Serbia, metaphedrone is a legally controlled substance. The pharmacodynamic properties make metaphedrone similar to classical recreational drugs. The method of administration, mainly repeated administration in a single session, could be explained using the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. The most reported symptoms of intoxication were those of a sympathomimetic nature, such as tachycardia, chest pain, hypertension, diaphoresis, and agitation. Most intoxications and fatal outcomes occurred to users who combined several psychoactive substances. The correlation between measured blood concentrations of the drug and outcomes of intoxication was not found. The mechanisms of metaphedrone’s toxicity are not fully understood. Conclusions: There is an increasing trend of abuse of metaphedrone among recreational drugs users. Future studies should focus on pharmacological and toxicological effects of metaphedrone on animals and humans.

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Section: Key Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metaphedrone (3-Methylmethcathinone): Pharmacological, Clinical, and Toxicological Profile

Kelečević,

Vejnović,

Javorac

et al. 2024

Medicina

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“…Although the diffusion of new psychoactive substances (NPS, also known as Smart Drugs) is increasing, the deaths reported in the literature are limited [ 123 , 124 ].…”

Section: Neuropathological Findings In Drug Abusersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroscopic and Microscopic Cerebral Findings in Drug and Alcohol Abusers: The Point of View of the Forensic Pathologist

Montana,

Alfieri,

Neri

et al. 2024

Biomedicines

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Drug abuse still represents a significant challenge for forensic pathologists; it must always be considered during the autopsy examination when the brain morphological alterations observed are not characteristic of any known disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Nonetheless, no specific brain lesions had been found to characterize the precise drug that caused the poisoning. In fact, a broad spectrum of changes affecting the CNS are seen in drug abusers. Thus, forensic pathology plays a key role in identifying the encephalic morphological alterations underlying the death. The aim of this review is to present an updated overview of the literature regarding the correlation between the main substances of abuse and the morphological alterations of the CNS to help the forensic pathologist to discriminate drug-induced alterations of the brain. The authors used the PRISMA criteriology to perform the bibliographic search for the present review. Among the articles identified according to the selected search criteria, 116 articles were chosen which allow us to define a picture of the main macroscopic and microscopic alterations of the brain in drug abuse.

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“…3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is one of the most prominent SC that also served as a template to create a new class of SC, namely pyrovalerones [ 5 ]. MDPV produces strong and long-lasting psychostimulatory effects in humans and laboratory rodents resulting from particularly potent inhibition of dopamine and noradrenaline cellular reuptake by monoamine transporters, DAT and NET, respectively [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abuse of SC may lead to a vast array of toxic effects which mostly affect the cardiovascular and nervous system, including agitation, insomnia, shivers, seizures, hyperthermia, paresthesia, disorientation, paranoia, anxiety, hallucinations, encephalopathy, hemorrhagic stroke, coma, and even death [ 5 , 6 ]. MDPV, a potent cocaine-like psychostimulant, is endowed with an exceptionally high risk of life-threatening or even fatal intoxication because its adverse effects mainly arise from the dopaminergic system stimulation [ 5 , 6 ]. Although the acute toxic effects triggered by SC on the central nervous system (CNS) are widely described, the data on the long-term consequences of exposure to SC are limited.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone) administered to mice during development of the central nervous system produces persistent learning and memory impairments

Kuczyńska,

Bartkowska,

Djavadian

et al. 2024

Pharmacol. Rep

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Background Synthetic cathinones (SC) constitute the second most frequently abused class of new psychoactive substances. They serve as an alternative to classic psychostimulatory drugs of abuse, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Despite the worldwide prevalence of SC, little is known about their long-term impact on the central nervous system. Here, we examined the effects of repeated exposure of mice during infancy, to 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a SC potently enhancing dopaminergic neurotransmission, on learning and memory in young adult mice. Methods All experiments were performed on C57BL/6J male and female mice. Animals were injected with MDPV (10 or 20 mg/kg) and BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine, 25 mg/kg) during postnatal days 11–20, which is a crucial period for the development of their hippocampus. At the age of 12 weeks, mice underwent an assessment of various types of memory using a battery of behavioral tests. Afterward, their brains were removed for detection of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation with immunohistochemistry, and for measurement of the expression of synaptic proteins, such as synaptophysin and PSD95, in the hippocampus using Western blot. Results Exposure to MDPV resulted in impairment of spatial working memory assessed with Y-maze spontaneous alternation test, and of object recognition memory. However, no deficits in hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory were found using the Morris water maze paradigm. Consistently, hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptogenesis were not interrupted. All observed MDPV effects were sex-independent. Conclusions MDPV administered repeatedly to mice during infancy causes learning and memory deficits that persist into adulthood but are not related to aberrant hippocampal development.

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Synthetic Cathinones and Neurotoxicity Risks: A Systematic Review

Cited by 26 publications

References 123 publications

Metaphedrone (3-Methylmethcathinone): Pharmacological, Clinical, and Toxicological Profile

Metaphedrone (3-Methylmethcathinone): Pharmacological, Clinical, and Toxicological Profile

Macroscopic and Microscopic Cerebral Findings in Drug and Alcohol Abusers: The Point of View of the Forensic Pathologist

MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone) administered to mice during development of the central nervous system produces persistent learning and memory impairments

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