Erowid
 
 
Plants - Drugs Mind - Spirit Freedom - Law Arts - Culture Library  
Erowid References Database
Cameron K, Kolanos R, Verkariya R, De Felice L, Glennon RA. 
“Mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), major constituents of 'bath salts,' produce opposite effects at the human dopamine transporter”. 
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2013 Jan 15.
Abstract

RATIONALE: Psychoactive "bath salts" represent a relatively new drug of abuse combination that was placed in Schedule I in October 2011. Two common ingredients of bath salts include the cathinone analogs: mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). The mechanism of action of these synthetic cathinone analogs has not been well investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Because cathinone and methcathinone are known to act as releasing agents at the human dopamine transporter (hDAT), mephedrone and MDPV were investigated at hDAT expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

RESULTS: Whereas mephedrone was found to have the signature of a dopamine-releasing agent similar to methamphetamine or methcathinone, MDPV behaved as a cocaine-like reuptake inhibitor of dopamine. CONCLUSIONS: Mephedrone and MDPV produce opposite electrophysiological signatures through hDAT expressed in oocytes. Implications are that the combination (as found in bath salts) might produce effects similar to a combination of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Comments and Responses to this Article
#
Submit Comment
[ Cite HTML ]