The serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist TCB-2: a behavioral and neurophysiological analysis

Rationale There are few reports on the high-affinity 5-HT 2A agonist (4-Bromo-3,6-dimethoxybenzocyclobuten-1-yl)methylamine hydrobromide (TCB-2). Objectives Here we provide the first behavioral and neurophysiological profile of TCB-2 in C57BL/6J mice, with direct comparisons to the 5-HT 2A/2C agonist (±)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl-2-aminopropane (DOI), in addition to determinations of 5-HT 2A mediation via pretreatment with the selective 5-HT 2A antagonist MDL 11,939. Results In a dose-dependent manner, TCB-2 induced head twitches, decreased food consumption in food-deprived mice, induced hypothermia, and increased corticosterone levels, with no effects on locomotor activity or anxiety-like behaviors in the open field. Similar effects were observed in side-by-side dose–response comparisons with DOI; although at the highest dose tested (5.0 mg/kg), TCB-2 induced significantly fewer head twitches, and a significantly enhanced hypothermic response, versus DOI. Pretreatment with MDL 11,939 blocked head twitches and temperature change following TCB-2 and DOI, confirming 5-HT 2A mediation of these responses. Although MDL 11,939 pretreatment blocked DOI-induced suppression of feeding, MDL 11,939 had no effect on TCB-2-induced suppression of feeding. Previous studies show that 5-HT 2A function is altered by changes in serotonin transporter (SERT) expression and function. In SERT knockout (−/−) mice, TCB-2-induced head twitches and hypothermia were greatly diminished compared to SERT wild-type (+/+) mice. Conclusions The current studies are important, as they are the first to assess the effects of TCB-2 in mice, and are among the first to report the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of this conformationally restricted phenethylamine analog compound, which has 65-fold greater effects on signaling via the phosphoinositide versus arachidonic acid pathways.