Increased striatal VMAT2 binding in mice after chronic administration of methcathinone and manganese.

Brain research 2016 Dec 01

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Intravenous use of a psychostimulant drug containing methcathinone (ephedrone) and manganese causes an irreversible extrapyramidal syndrome in drug abusers. We aimed to reproduce the syndrome in mice to evaluate dopaminergic damage. C57/B6 mice were intraperitoneally injected once a day with the study drug or saline for a period of 27 weeks. Motor activity was recorded in an automated motility-box. After 13 and 27 weeks of treatment, ex vivo digital autoradiography was performed using [11C]dihydrotetrabenazine ([11C]DTBZ). After 27 weeks of treatment [11C]DTBZ autoradiography demonstrated a significant increase in the striatum-to-cerebellum binding ratio compared with saline treated controls. At the same time point, there was no evident change in motor activity. Increased [11C]DTBZ binding may indicate vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) function is altered. The lack of extrapyramidal symptoms in animals could be attributed to low dosing regimen or high metabolic rate. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Andres Asser, Sulev Kõks, Anniina Snellman, Merja Haaparanta-Solin, Eveliina Arponen, Tove Grönroos, Jaak Nairismägi, Jonas Bergquist, Ursel Soomets, Piret Piip, Mall Eltermaa, Martin Sauk, Hanna Lindmäe, Juha O Rinne, Pille Taba. Increased striatal VMAT2 binding in mice after chronic administration of methcathinone and manganese. Brain research. 2016 Dec 01;1652:97-102