Martínez-Clemente, JoséLópez Arnau, RaúlAbad, SoniaPubill Sánchez, DavidEscubedo Rafa, ElenaCamarasa García, Jordi2014-07-222014-07-222014-06-031932-6203https://hdl.handle.net/2445/56203Mephedrone is a drug of abuse marketed as 'bath salts'. There are discrepancies concerning its long-term effects. We have investigated the neurotoxicity of mephedrone in mice following different exposition schedules. Schedule 1: four doses of 50 mg/kg. Schedule 2: four doses of 25 mg/kg. Schedule 3: three daily doses of 25 mg/kg, for two consecutive days. All schedules induced, in some animals, an aggressive behavior and hyperthermia as well as a decrease in weight gain. Mephedrone (schedule 1) induced dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotoxicity that persisted 7 days after exposition. At a lower dose (schedule 2) only a transient dopaminergic injury was found. In the weekend consumption pattern (schedule 3), mephedrone induced dopamine and serotonin transporter loss that was accompanied by a decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 expression one week after exposition. Also, mephedrone induced a depressive-like behavior, as well as a reduction in striatal D2 density, suggesting higher susceptibility to addictive drugs. In cultured cortical neurons, mephedrone induced a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect. Using repeated doses for 2 days in an elevated ambient temperature we evidenced a loss of frontal cortex dopaminergic and hippocampal serotoninergic neuronal markers that suggest injuries at nerve endings.11 p.application/pdfengcc-by (c) Martínez-Clemente, José et al., 2014http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/esAmfetaminesLòbul frontalNeurotoxicologiaRatolins (Animals de laboratori)Sistema nerviós centralAmphetaminesFrontal lobeNeurotoxicologyMice (Laboratory animals)Central nervous systeminfo:eu-repo/semantics/article6418092014-07-22info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess24892744