Cathinone is a β-keto
alkaloid that is the major active constituent of khat, the leaf of the Catha edulis plant that is chewed recreationally in East Africa and the Middle East. Related compounds, such as
methcathinone and
mephedrone have been increasing in popularity as
recreational drugs, resulting in the recent proposal to classify khat as a Class C
drug in the UK. There is still limited knowledge of the pharmacological effects of
cathinone. This study examined the acute effects of
cathinone on core body temperature, locomotor and other behaviors, and neuronal activity in Siberian hamsters. Adult male hamsters, previously implanted with radio telemetry devices, were treated with
cathinone (2 or 5mg/kg i.p.), the behavioral profile scored and core body temperature and locomotor activity recorded by radio telemetry. At the end of the study, hamsters received vehicle or
cathinone (5mg/kg) and neuronal activation in the brain was determined using immunohistochemical evaluation of c-fos expression.
Cathinone dose-dependently induced significant (p<0.0001) increases in both temperature and locomotor activity lasting 60-90min.
Cathinone (2mg/kg) increased rearing (p<0.02), and 5mg/kg increased both rearing (p<0.001) and lateral head twitches (p<0.02). Both
cathinone doses decreased the time spent at rest (p<0.001). The number of c-fos immunopositive cells were significantly increased in the striatum (p<0.0001) and suprachiasmatic nucleus (p<0.05) following
cathinone, indicating increased neuronal activity. There was no effect of
cathinone on food intake or
body weight. It is concluded that systemic administration of
cathinone induces significant behavioral changes and CNS activation in the hamster.