A preliminary behavioral investigation of PMMA, the 4-methoxy analog of methamphetamine

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1988 Sep;31(1):9-13. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(88)90303-6.

Abstract

The controlled-substance analog N-monomethyl-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (PMMA) may be viewed as being either the 4-methoxy analog of methamphetamine or the N-methyl analog of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (PMA). Because of its abuse potential, PMMA was examined with regard to (a) its stimulus properties in rats trained to discriminate either 1.0 mg/kg of (+)amphetamine or (+/-)DOM from saline, (b) its toxicity (isolated and aggregated) in mice relative to (+/-)PMA, and (c) its locomotor stimulant activity in mice relative to (+/-)amphetamine, (+/-)methamphetamine, and (+/-)PMA. Racemic PMMA produced neither DOM-like nor, unlike PMA, amphetamine-like stimulus effects. There was no significant difference between the 24-hr isolated (LD50 = 63 mg/kg) and aggregated (LD50 = 53 mg/kg) toxicity, and PMMA did not produce significant locomotor stimulation at doses of up to 30 mg/kg. The present results suggest that while PMMA may produce central effects it does not appear to behave as a simple amphetamine-like agent.

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamine / pharmacology
  • Amphetamine / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Discrimination Learning / drug effects*
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Methamphetamine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Methamphetamine / pharmacology
  • Methamphetamine / toxicity
  • Mice
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*
  • Rats

Substances

  • 4-methoxymethamphetamine
  • Methamphetamine
  • Amphetamine