Synergism between a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) antagonist and 5-HT2CR agonist suggests new pharmacotherapeutics for cocaine addiction

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2013 Jan 16;4(1):110-21. doi: 10.1021/cn300072u. Epub 2012 Aug 11.

Abstract

Relapse to cocaine dependence, even after extended abstinence, involves a number of liability factors including impulsivity (predisposition toward rapid, unplanned reactions to stimuli without regard to negative consequences) and cue reactivity (sensitivity to cues associated with cocaine-taking which can promote cocaine-seeking). These factors have been mechanistically linked to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) signaling through the 5-HT(2A) receptor (5-HT(2A)R) and 5-HT(2C)R; either a selective 5-HT(2A)R antagonist or a 5-HT(2C)R agonist suppresses impulsivity and cocaine-seeking in preclinical models. We conducted proof-of-concept analyses to evaluate whether a combination of 5-HT(2A)R antagonist plus 5-HT(2C)R agonist would have synergistic effects over these liability factors for relapse as measured in a 1-choice serial reaction time task and cocaine self-administration/reinstatement assay. Combined administration of a dose of the selective 5-HT(2A)R antagonist M100907 plus the 5-HT(2C)R agonist WAY163909, each ineffective alone, synergistically suppressed cocaine-induced hyperactivity, inherent and cocaine-evoked impulsive action, as well as cue- and cocaine-primed reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior. The identification of synergism between a 5-HT(2A)R antagonist plus a 5-HT(2C)R agonist to attenuate these factors important in relapse indicates the promise of a bifunctional ligand as an anti-addiction pharmacotherapeutic, setting the stage to develop new ligands with improved efficacy, potency, selectivity, and in vivo profiles over the individual molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Azepines / therapeutic use*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Cues
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Synergism
  • Fluorobenzenes / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hyperkinesis / drug therapy
  • Impulsive Behavior / drug therapy
  • Indoles / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Reinforcement Schedule
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 1,2,3,4,8,9,10,10a-octahydro-7bH-cyclopenta(b)(1,4)diazepino(6,7,1hj)indole
  • Azepines
  • Drug Combinations
  • Fluorobenzenes
  • Indoles
  • Piperidines
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists
  • volinanserin