Pretreatment with group I metabotropic glutamate receptors antagonists attenuates lethality induced by acute cocaine overdose and expression of sensitization to hyperlocomotor effect of cocaine in mice

Neurotox Res. 2011 Jan;19(1):23-30. doi: 10.1007/s12640-009-9136-8. Epub 2009 Nov 21.

Abstract

Cocaine abuse and dependence is a worldwide health problem. However, there are no currently approved medications to reduce cocaine abuse/relapse and toxicity. The aim of the present study was to test, whether group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) antagonists (mGluR1 and mGluR5) differentially regulate toxic versus behavioral effects of cocaine, both phenomena relevant to the psychopathology of cocaine addiction in humans. In the present study, we assessed the impact of mGluR1 antagonist-EMQMCM and mGluR5 antagonist-MTEP on the cocaine-induced lethality and the expression of sensitization to hyperlocomotor effect of cocaine in mice. Our study indicated that EMQMCM and MTEP, both substances at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg (but not 2.5 mg/kg), decreased cocaine-induced lethality produced by 75 mg/kg of cocaine, which was given acutely. The effect of EMQMCM was dose-dependent, and this compound at the dose of 10 mg/kg almost completely abolished the lethality induced by cocaine. MTEP reduced this cocaine effect at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, equally. Furthermore, EMQMCM (1.25-5 mg/kg) at the doses of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg, and MTEP (2.5-10 mg/kg) only at the highest dose of 10 mg/kg, significantly reduced the expression of cocaine-induced (10 mg/kg) behavioral sensitization. Our results suggest that stimulation of mGluR1 and mGluR5 is involved in lethal effect of cocaine overdose and cocaine seeking behavior evaluated in behavioral sensitization test. However, the participation of mGluR1 in these cocaine effects seems to be dominant. Therefore, antagonists showing preferences towards mGluR1 might be useful in therapy of cocaine toxicity and abuse.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cocaine / poisoning*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / drug therapy
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / physiopathology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Overdose
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / administration & dosage*
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Psychomotor Agitation / physiopathology
  • Psychomotor Agitation / prevention & control*
  • Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / physiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • GRM5 protein, human
  • Grm5 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1
  • Cocaine