Hidden Dangers of Novel Psychostimulant Abuse Revealed using Danio rerio as a Model of Neurodevelopmental Toxicity
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1
Athlone Institute of Technology, Bioscience Research Institute, Ireland
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2
University College Dublin, Conway Institute, Ireland
2,5-dimethoxy -4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B) is a designer drug of abuse. A member of the 2C class of substituted phenethylamines, it has both psychedelic and entactogenic effects and is often consumed in combination with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy). The effective dose range of 2C-B (8-10mg) is approximately ten times lower than ecstasy (75-125mg) and it has recently been linked with numerous cases of hospitalisation throughout Ireland and the UK. Several cases of persistent psychosis have also been reported following the consumption of 2C-B alone, thus highlighting the need for urgent research into both its pharmacological and toxicological effects.
The teratogenic and neurotoxic potential of 2C-B and its related analogues (2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine (DOB) and MDMA) were investigated using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a developmental model. 2C-B induced significant dysmorphological effects in developing larvae and also effected larval movement when assessed using standard behavioural assays, both potential indicators of developmental neurotoxicity. This work highlights the hidden dangers involved when consuming unknown pharmacological entities such as 2C-B, particularly during early pregnancy.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by the Irish Government and part-financed by the European Union under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013.
Keywords:
Designer Drugs,
developmental toxicity,
zebrafish model system,
MDMA,
teratogenicity
Conference:
Neuroscience Ireland Young Neuroscientists Symposium 2014 , Dublin, Ireland, 20 Sep - 20 Sep, 2014.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Early Career Neuroscience
Citation:
Leyden
C,
Reynolds
A,
Mc Bean
G,
Kennedy
BN and
Montgomery
TR
(2014). Hidden Dangers of Novel Psychostimulant Abuse Revealed using Danio rerio as a Model of Neurodevelopmental Toxicity.
Front. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
Neuroscience Ireland Young Neuroscientists Symposium 2014 .
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2014.87.00022
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Received:
14 Sep 2014;
Published Online:
14 Sep 2014.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Claire Leyden, Athlone Institute of Technology, Bioscience Research Institute, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland, claire.leyden10@gmail.com