Department of Biology, Trinity University, 1 Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212, United States.
Eur J Pharmacol. 2013 Aug 15;714(1-3):32-40. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.05.024. Epub 2013 Jun 10.
The recent shortage of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) has led to an increased demand for alternative amphetamine-like drugs such as the synthetic cathinone, 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone). Despite the re-classification of mephedrone as a Class B restricted substance by the United Kingdom and restrictive legislation by the United States, international policy regarding mephedrone control is still developing and interest in synthetic amphetamine-like drugs could drive the development of future mephedrone analogues. Currently, there is little literature investigating the mechanism of action and long-term effects of mephedrone. As such, we reviewed the current understanding of amphetamines, cathinones, and cocaine emphasizing the potentially translational aspects to mephedrone, as well as contrasting with the work that has been done specifically on mephedrone in order to present the current state of understanding of mephedrone in terms of its risks, mechanisms, and behavioral effects. Emerging research suggests that while there are structural and behavioral similarities of mephedrone with amphetamine-like compounds, it appears that serotonergic signaling may mediate more of mephedrone's effects unlike the more dopaminergic dependent effects observed in traditional amphetamine-like compounds. As new designer drugs are produced, current and continuing research on mephedrone and other synthetic cathinones should help inform policymakers' decisions regarding the regulation of novel 'legal highs.'
最近 3,4-亚甲基二氧甲基苯丙胺（MDMA，摇头丸）的短缺导致对替代苯丙胺类药物的需求增加，如合成卡西酮 4-甲基甲卡西酮（mephedrone）。尽管英国将 mephedrone 重新归类为 B 类限制物质，美国也通过了限制立法，但国际上对 mephedrone 控制的政策仍在不断发展，对合成苯丙胺类药物的兴趣可能会推动未来 mephedrone 类似物的发展。目前，关于 mephedrone 的作用机制和长期影响的研究文献很少。因此，我们回顾了目前对安非他命、卡西酮和可卡因的理解，强调了 mephedrone 的潜在转化方面，并与专门针对 mephedrone 的工作进行了对比，以便根据其风险、机制和行为效应，呈现目前对 mephedrone 的理解状态。新兴研究表明，虽然 mephedrone 与苯丙胺类化合物在结构和行为上存在相似之处，但似乎 5-羟色胺信号传导可能介导了更多的 mephedrone 效应，而不像传统苯丙胺类化合物中观察到的更依赖多巴胺的效应。随着新型设计药物的出现，目前对 mephedrone 和其他合成卡西酮的研究应有助于为决策者制定关于新型“合法兴奋剂”的监管决策提供信息。
