Acute toxic effects of new synthetic cannabinoid on brain: Neurobehavioral and Histological: Preclinical studies

Shrouk Mohamed Ali; Eman Kolieb; Samar Imbaby; Abeer M Hagras; Horeya Erfan Korayem Arafat; Eman Mohamed Kamel; Mohamed A Abdelshakour; Maha Ismail Mohammed Ali

doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110306

Acute toxic effects of new synthetic cannabinoid on brain: Neurobehavioral and Histological: Preclinical studies

Chem Biol Interact. 2023 Jan 25:370:110306. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110306. Epub 2022 Dec 15.

Authors

Shrouk Mohamed Ali¹, Eman Kolieb², Samar Imbaby³, Abeer M Hagras⁴, Horeya Erfan Korayem Arafat⁵, Eman Mohamed Kamel⁶, Mohamed A Abdelshakour⁷, Maha Ismail Mohammed Ali⁸

Affiliations

¹ Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt. Electronic address: shroukmali@med.suez.edu.eg.
² Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt. Electronic address: Eman.Kolieb@med.suez.edu.eg.
³ Clinical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt. Electronic address: samar_imbaby@med.suez.edu.eg.
⁴ Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt. Electronic address: abeerhagras@med.suez.edu.eg.
⁵ Histology & Cell Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt. Electronic address: Horeya.arafat@med.suez.edu.eg.
⁶ Human Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt. Electronic address: Eman.M.kamel@med.suez.edu.eg.
⁷ Department of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sohag University, 82524, Sohag, Egypt. Electronic address: dr_megypt@yahoo.com.
⁸ Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522, Ismailia, Egypt. Electronic address: maha.elsherbeeny@med.suez.edu.eg.

PMID: 36528081
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110306

Abstract

The psychoactive effects of new synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), MDMB-4en-PINACA, are being marketed as a blend of herbs and spices. This study aims to determine the behavioral, neurochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical alterations associated with the acute toxicity of MDMB-4en-PINACA compounds.

Methods: Adult male albino rats were administered various toxic doses of the drug (1.5, 3, and 6 mg/kg), and behavioral studies were conducted 2 and 24 h later; animals were then sacrificed. Histopathological and neurochemical examinations were performed. Two hours after intraperitoneal.

Results: Intraperitoneal injection of MDMB-4en-PINACA, horizontal movement, the number of stops, and mobility ratio were significantly impaired, along with coordination and balance. In addition, it led to a decline in spatial learning and memory, and neurotransmitter concentrations decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Further examination of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus histopathology revealed pathological degeneration of small pyramidal cells.

Conclusion: Thus, these findings revealed that MDMB-4en-PINACA interferes with hippocampal function and impairs cognitive performance, highlighting the cognitive risk associated with SC abuse.

Keywords: Behavioral studies; MDMB-4en-PINACA; Neurotransmitters; Synthetic cannabinoids.

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain
Cannabinoids* / chemistry
Male
Rats

Substances

Cannabinoids
MDMB-4en-PINACA