Sensitization to the locomotor stimulant effects of “bath salt” constituents, 4‐methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Locomotor responses sensitize to MDPV and to certain mixtures of MDPV and 4-MMC following repeated dosing. Furthermore, previous exposure to these substances may produce cross-sensitization to the locomotor stimulant effects of cocaine. Considered together with recent findings that 4-MMC and MDPV have different sites of action, but both influence monoaminergic functioning, further investigations utilizing a variety of behavioral assays may prove informative regarding the abuse liability of synthetic cathinone mixtures.