BEHAVIORAL-EFFECTS OF THE NOVEL TROPANE ANALOG, 2-BETA-PROPANOYL-3-BETA-(4-TOLUYL)-TROPANE (PTT)

In vitro studies have demonstrated that a novel tropane analog, PTT, i n which both of the esters of cocaine have been removed is 20 times mo re potent than cocaine and more selective than cocaine in binding to d opamine transporters. The present studies compared the ability of PTT and cocaine to stimulate locomotor activity in rats. The intraperitone al administration of PTT and cocaine to male Fisher-344 rats produced dose-dependent increases in spontaneous locomotor activity and stereot ypic behaviors. PTT was 10-20 times more potent than cocaine in this b ehavioral assay, closely paralleling its potency relative to cocaine i n dopamine transporter binding and uptake assays in vitro. PTT, howeve r, elicited a qualitatively different profile of stereotypic behaviors , and PTT had a longer duration of action than cocaine. These results show how changes in kinetics and selectivity of tropanes can affect st imulant-elicited behaviors.