Illuminating the Neurotoxic Effects of TFMPP derivatives in N27 Rat Dopaminergic Neuronal Cells through Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Abstract

The use of designer drugs in the United States have increased tremendously. Designer drugs are highly dangerous and most importantly the abusers don't have a clue with regard to what they are getting. Thus, it is currently casting a pall over the renaissance of scientific research into legitimate uses for psychedelic drugs. TFMPP derivatives are presently being abused and there are few reports on its neurotoxic effects. Our present study was to investigate the neurotoxic effects of the designer drug- Tri-Fluoro-Methyl-Phenyl-Piperazine derivatives (2, 3 and 4 TFMPP) in N27 dopaminergic cells. We assessed the neurotoxic effects using cell viability assay and morphological measures. Furthermore, the neurotoxic mechanisms were also elucidated. Effect of TFMPP derivatives were studied on the markers of oxidative stress and mitochondrial functions. Therefore, our results demonstrated that TFMPP derivatives (2, 3 and 4) dose-dependently induced neurotoxicity. Furthermore, they also induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction which contributes to its neurotoxic and deleterious effects. Hence, there is an urgent need for additional studies about TFMPP derivatives to avoid the potential threat of increasing the risk for movement and mental disorders in the society.