4-Ethoxyamphetamine: effects on intracranial self-stimulation and in vitro uptake and release of 3H-dopamine and 3H-serotonin in the brains of rats.

Experiments were conducted to compare the effects of 4-ethoxyamphetamine, a novel "designer" amphetamine, with (+)-amphetamine and an earlier "designer" amphetamine, 4-methoxyamphetamine, on rats. (+)-Amphetamine significantly decreased frequency threshold measures in an intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedure using medial forebrain bundle electrodes, while 4-methoxyamphetamine and 4-ethoxyamphetamine increased these ICSS frequency thresholds. 4-Methoxyamphetamine and 4-ethoxyamphetamine had more potent effects on inhibition of uptake and stimulation of spontaneous release of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) than of dopamine. It is concluded that the neuropsychopharmacological profile of 4-ethoxyamphetamine is unlike that of (+)-amphetamine, but similar to that of 4-methoxyamphetamine, a potent hallucinogen in humans.