Many new psychoactive substances (NPS) are stimulants, and information about their potency and abuse potential is often lacking. To start addressing this need, a method measuring the inhibition of the dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine transporters (DAT, SERT, and NET) by stimulant drugs was developed. The use of a proprietary fluorescent dye mixture and three cell lines (CHO-K1, HEK 293, and MDCK), each expressing a single transporter, allowed for a semiautomated, one-pot determination of inhibition in a 384-well format. The method was validated using well characterized stimulants, including cocaine, amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), α-PVP, and fluoxetine and performed similarly to other methods. Seven synthetic cathinones all showed highest potency for DAT inhibition, followed by NET and SERT. The rank potency for DAT inhibition IC50 (nM) was MPHP (4.53) > 4Cl-α-PVP (8.05) > 3F-α-PVP (12.7) > α-PiHP (13.4) > N-ethylpentylone (16.9) > N-ethylhexedrone (44.5) > 4-methylpentedrone (261). All but 4-methylpentedrone were more potent than amphetamine (257) and cocaine (111). The DAT/SERT inhibition ratio for the cathinones was in the range from 5.02 for 4-methylpentedrone to >3730 for α-PiHP, compared to 1.64 for cocaine and >4030 for α-PVP. All seven substances had inhibition profiles similar to those of potent stimulants with high abuse potential.
Keywords: cathinones; inhibition ratio; monoamine transporter; neurotransmitter inhibition; new psychoactive substances.
© 2023 The Authors. Drug Testing and Analysis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.