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Acute and sub-chronic effects of purified cathinone from khat (Catha edulis) on behavioural profiles in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops)

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Abstract

We investigated the cumulative effects of cathinone on behavioural alterations in single-caged vervet monkeys. Fourteen adult vervets were divided into tests (12 animals) and controls (2 animals), and exposed to escalating doses of cathinone at alternate days of each week for 4 months in presence and absence of cage enrichment. One month of pre-treatment phase served to establish baseline values. Composite behavioural scores of aggression, anxiety, abnormal responses, withdrawal and appetite loss were done. A series of repeated measures analysis of variances were conducted to examine the extent to which cathinone administration was associated with patterns of changes in behavioural data. Results indicate a dose-dependent effect of cathinone on increases of aggression, anxiety, abnormal responses, withdrawal, and appetite loss. The findings demonstrate that at high doses and long-term exposure, cathinone causes behavioural alterations probably via changes in presynaptic striatal dopamine system.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Gershon Deya, James Ndung’u, Margaret Kagina, Robert Tsuma and Stanley Marete for their technical assistance. This work was supported by the Khat Research Program (KRP) and the Office of International Programs at the University of Minnesota and Dean’s Committee Grant of the University of Nairobi.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Albert W. Nyongesa & Jemimah A. Oduma

  2. Duluth Medical Research Institute, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, USA

    Motohiro Nakajima & Mustafa al’Absi

  3. School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

    Hesbon O. Odongo

  4. Institute of Primate Research, Karen, Kenya

    Pius A. Adoyo

Authors
  1. Albert W. Nyongesa
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  2. Jemimah A. Oduma
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  3. Motohiro Nakajima
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  4. Hesbon O. Odongo
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  5. Pius A. Adoyo
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  6. Mustafa al’Absi
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Correspondence to Albert W. Nyongesa.

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Nyongesa, A.W., Oduma, J.A., Nakajima, M. et al. Acute and sub-chronic effects of purified cathinone from khat (Catha edulis) on behavioural profiles in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops). Metab Brain Dis 29, 441–449 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-013-9441-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-013-9441-z

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