Determinants of Abuse-Related Effects of Monoamine Releasers in Rats

Monoamine releasers constitute a class of compounds that promote release of dopamine, serotonin, and/or norepinephrine. These compounds have a range of different uses in the medical setting, including treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy, and obesity. A major limitation of many of these compounds (i.e. amphetamine, methamphetamine, phenmetrazine) is their propensity for abuse; however, not all monoamine releasers are abused (i.e. fenfluramine). The goal of this dissertation was to examine pharmacological determinants of abuse-related effects produced by monoamine releasers in two preclinical assays in rats: intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) and drug discrimination. First, this work confirmed and expanded upon previous findings that selectivity for promoting release of dopamine versus serotonin is one determinant of abuse-related effects produced by monoamine releasers. This was accomplished by determining the behavioral effects of 11 different compounds that ranged in their selectivity for dopamine versus serotonin, and a correlation was found between the ability of a compound to facilitate ICSS and the selectivity of that compound for releasing dopamine versus serotonin. These data were then submitted to a rate-dependency analysis. Here, we found that all compounds produced rate-dependent effects, but that the profile of these effects varied with a compound’s selectivity for dopamine versus serotonin. Next, the mechanism by which serotonin exerts it response rate-decreasing effects was investigated - specifically, the hypothesis that the 5HT2C receptor mediates serotonin’s abuse-limiting effects of monoamine releasers was tested. The data collected suggest that the 5HT2C receptor contributes to, but is not exclusively responsible for, the abuse-limiting effects produced by serotonin release. Finally, selectivity for norepinephrine versus dopamine was examined as a potential determinant of monoamine releaser abuse liability; results from these studies suggest that release of both dopamine and norepinephrine are required for expression of abuse-related effects in assays of ICSS and drug discrimination. These data provide a systematic examination of the determinants of the abuse-related effects produced by monoamine releasers and may contribute to development of medications with reduced abuse potentials.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Pharmacology & Toxicology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Bauer, Clayton T.

Contributors dc:contributor

• S. Stevens Negus

• Pharmacology
• Dopamine
• Amphetamine
• Abuse
• Medical Pharmacology
• Medical Sciences
• Medicine and Health Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• © The Author

Identifier

https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/522

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-1521