MDMA (""""""""Ecstasy"""""""") is a popular drug of abuse especially among youth in the population. Use of MDMA is associated with acute physiological effects among which is the development of hyperthermia, which in turn may lead to serious organ damage. MDMA is neurotoxic and severe cognitive and psychological damage can result from abuse of the drug. Furthermore, there is evidence that dependence can develop with repeated use of MDMA. There is an unmet medical need for a therapeutic agent to combat the adverse effects of MDMA at this time. The goal of this project is to elucidate structural features of our lead molecule (+)-nantenine, which are required for antagonism of behavioral and physiological effects of MDMA. We will test the central hypothesis that structural modification of (+)-nantenine will yield novel aporphine MDMA antagonists. To test this hypothesis we will engage an in vivo SAR study involving two specific aims . In the first specific aim we will examine the effects of replacement of substituents on the aromatic rings of nantenine on their ability to antagonize MDMA-induced effects in a drug discrimination assay and hyperthermia assay. For the second specific aim the role of substituents at the N6 position of nantenine will be similarly evaluated. Analogs will be evaluated in CNS receptor screens to delineate possible receptor combination strategies which may be appropriate for MDMA antagonism.
This research positively impacts human health by allowing for the identification and development of novel molecules which antagonize the effects of the designer drug """"""""Ecstasy"""""""".
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