Unveiling the potential abuse liability of α-D2PV: A novel α-carbon phenyl-substituted synthetic cathinone

Abstract

Synthetic cathinones are emerging psychoactive substances designed to mimic the effects of classical psychostimulants. Among them, α-D2PV, a novel pyrrolidine-containing cathinone characterized by a phenyl group on the α-carbon atom, has gained significant attention. This study investigates the in vitro and in silico mechanism of action as well as the abuse liability of α-D2PV using rodent models. Dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NE), and serotonin (5-HT) uptake inhibition assays were conducted in HEK293 cells expressing the corresponding human monoamine transporter, complemented by molecular docking studies at the DA transporter (DAT). Behavioral studies in male Swiss CD-1 mice assessed locomotor activity and conditioned place preference, while microdialysis and self-administration experiments were performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The findings reveal that α-D2PV is a potent DA and NE uptake inhibitor, with minimal activity at the 5-HT transporter (SERT). Docking studies showed that the benzene rings of α-PVP and α-D2PV align precisely in their most stable conformations at DAT. In vivo, α-D2PV elicited dose-dependent hyperlocomotion, thigmotaxis, and rewarding effects in mice, alongside increased extracellular DA levels in the nucleus accumbens of awake rats. Self-administration experiments confirmed α-D2PV's high reinforcing efficacy, indicating a significant risk of abuse in humans. Finally, these results underscore the necessity for continued surveillance of α-D2PV within the illicit drug market. Furthermore, novel synthetic cathinones incorporating a phenyl ring at the α-carbon side chain warrant proactive monitoring due to their potential to retain dopaminergic activity and evade initial legal controls.