POTENT SUBSTITUTED-3-BETA-PHENYLTROPANE ANALOGS OF COCAINE HAVE COCAINE-LIKE DISCRIMINATIVE STIMULUS EFFECTS

Two novel phenyltropane analogs of cocaine, 3 beta-(4-chlorophenyl) tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (RTI-COC-31) and 3 beta-(4-methylphenyl) tropane-2 beta-carboxylic acid methyl ester (RTI-COC-32), were evaluated for cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effects in rats. Two groups of rats were trained to discriminate 10 mg/kg cocaine from saline using a standard 2-lever discrimination procedure with correct-lever responding reinforced under a fixed-ratio 20 schedule of food reinforcement. One group of rats was used to evaluate RTI-COC-31 and the unsubstituted-3 beta-phenyltropane reference compound WIN 35,065-2 in substitution tests. Another group of rats was used to evaluate RTI-COC-32. For purposes of comparison, a cocaine dose-effect curve was also determined in each group. Both RTI-COC-31 and RTI-COC-32, as well as WIN 35,065-2, substituted completely for cocaine. RTI-COC-31 was 26.8-fold and RTI-COC-32 was 6-fold more potent than cocaine for producing cocaine-lever responding. The potent cocaine-like effects of the RTI analogs in vivo correspond with their high affinities for a cocaine recognition site on the dopamine transporter, providing further evidence that this site may mediate behavioral effects of cocaine relevant to its abuse.