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Open Access 01-01-2021 | Original Article

Metabolism of synthetic cathinones through the zebrafish water tank model: a promising tool for forensic toxicology laboratories

Authors: Estefany Prado, Rebecca Rodrigues Matos, Geovana Maria de Lima Gomes, Clarisse Baptista Lima de Sá, Isabelle Karine da Costa Nunes, Carina de Souza Anselmo, Adriana Sousa de Oliveira, Luciana Silva do Amaral Cohen, Denilson Soares de Siqueira, Marco Antônio Martins de Oliveira, João Carlos Laboissiere Ambrosio, Gabriela Vanini Costa, Francisco Radler de Aquino Neto, Monica Costa Padilha, Henrique Marcelo Gualberto Pereira

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to identify in vivo phase I metabolites of five psychoactive substances: N-ethylpentylone, ethylone, methylone, α-PVP and 4-CDC, using the in house developed experimental set-up zebrafish (Danio rerio) water tank (ZWT). High-resolution mass spectrometry allowed for metabolite identification. A pilot study of reference standard collection of N-ethylpentylone from the water tank was conducted.

Methods

ZWT consisted in 8 fish placed in a 200 mL recipient-containing water for a single cathinone. Experiments were performed in triplicate. Water tank samples were collected after 8 h and pretreated through solid-phase extraction. Separation and accurate-mass spectra of metabolites were obtained using liquid chromatography–high resolution tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

Phase I metabolites of α-PVP were identified, which were formed involving ketone reduction, hydroxylation, and 2″-oxo-pyrrolidine formation. The lactam derivative was the major metabolite observed for α-PVP in ZWT. N-Ethylpentylone and ethylone were transformed into phase I metabolites involving reduction, hydroxylation, and dealkylation. 4-CDC was transformed into phase I metabolites, reported for the first time, involving N-dealkylation, N,N-bis-dealkylation and reduction of the ketone group, the last one being the most intense after 8 h of the experiment.

Conclusions

ZWT model indicated to be very useful to study the metabolism of the synthetic cathinones, such as N-ethylpentylone, ethylone, α-PVP and 4-CDC. Methylone seems to be a potent CYP450 inhibitor in zebrafish. More experiments are needed to better evaluate this issue. Finally, this approach was quite simple, straightforward, extremely low cost, and fast for “human-like” metabolic studies of synthetic cathinones.

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Title: Metabolism of synthetic cathinones through the zebrafish water tank model: a promising tool for forensic toxicology laboratories
Authors: Estefany Prado
Rebecca Rodrigues Matos
Geovana Maria de Lima Gomes
Clarisse Baptista Lima de Sá
Isabelle Karine da Costa Nunes
Carina de Souza Anselmo
Adriana Sousa de Oliveira
Luciana Silva do Amaral Cohen
Denilson Soares de Siqueira
Marco Antônio Martins de Oliveira
João Carlos Laboissiere Ambrosio
Gabriela Vanini Costa
Francisco Radler de Aquino Neto
Monica Costa Padilha
Henrique Marcelo Gualberto Pereira
Publication date: 01-01-2021
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Published in: Forensic Toxicology / Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-020-00543-w

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Metabolism of synthetic cathinones through the zebrafish water tank model: a promising tool for forensic toxicology laboratories

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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