Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone), a principal constituent of psychoactive bath salts, produces behavioral sensitization in rats.

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 (15 mg/kg on the first day, 30 mg/kg for 5 days, 15 mg/kg on the last day) and (2) a 5-day constant-dosing paradigm (15 mg/kg for 5 days). Following 10 days of drug absence, rats were challenged with MEPH (15 mg/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.