@article{ref1,
title="Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone), a principal constituent of psychoactive bath salts, produces behavioral sensitization in rats",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence",
year="2013",
author="Gregg, Ryan A. and Tallarida, Christopher S. and Reitz, Allen and McCurdy, Christopher and Rawls, Scott M.",
volume="133",
number="2",
pages="746-750",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The present study tested the hypothesis that mephedrone (MEPH) produces behavioral sensitization (i.e., a progressive increase in motor response during repeated psychostimulant exposure) in rats. METHODS: MEPH was administered in two paradigms: (1) a 7-day variable-dosing paradigm (15mg/kg on the first day, 30mg/kg for 5 days, 15mg/kg on the last day) and (2) a 5-day constant-dosing paradigm (15mg/kg for 5 days). Following 10 days of drug absence, rats were challenged with MEPH (15mg/kg). RESULTS: MEPH challenge produced enhancement of repetitive movement compared to acute MEPH exposure in both paradigms. Sensitization of repetitive movements to MEPH was also detected following a shorter (2-day) absence interval, before initiation of an absence interval (i.e., following repeated daily exposure), and across context-independent and -dependent dosing schedules. A lower dose of MEPH (5mg/kg) did not produce sensitization of repetitive movement. Sensitization of ambulatory activity was not detected in any experimental paradigm. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that repeated MEPH exposure produces preferential sensitization to repetitive movement produced by acute MEPH challenge. Our findings suggest that MEPH is a unique stimulant displaying weak sensitizing properties with overlapping, but distinctive, features relative to established psychostimulant drugs.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0376-8716",
doi="10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.06.014",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.06.014"
}