Effects of β-Phenylethylamine on Psychomotor, Rewarding, and Reinforcing Behaviors and Affective State: The Role of Dopamine D1 Receptors

Abstract

Beta-phenylethylamine (β-PEA) is a well-known and widespread endogenous neuroactive trace amine found throughout the central nervous system in humans. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of β-PEA on psychomotor, rewarding, and reinforcing behaviors and affective state using the open-field test, conditioned place preference (CPP), self-administration, and ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) paradigms. We also investigated the role of the dopamine (DA) D1 receptor in the behavioral effects of β-PEA in rodents. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western immunoblotting, we also determined the DA concentration and the DA-related protein levels in the dorsal striatum of mice administered with acute β-PEA. The results showed that acute β-PEA increased stereotypic behaviors such as circling and head-twitching responses in mice. In the CPP experiment, β-PEA increased place preference in mice. In the self-administration test, β-PEA significantly enhanced self-administration during a 2 h session under fixed ratio (FR) schedules (FR1 and FR3) and produced a higher breakpoint during a 6 h session under progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement in rats. In addition, acute β-PEA increased 50-kHz USV calls in rats. Furthermore, acute β-PEA administration increased DA concentration and p-DAT and TH expression in the dorsal striatum of mice. Finally, pretreatment with SCH23390, a DA D1 receptor antagonist, attenuated β-PEA-induced circling behavior and β-PEA-taking behavior in rodents. Taken together, these findings suggest that β-PEA has rewarding and reinforcing effects and psychoactive properties, which induce psychomotor behaviors and a positive affective state by activating the DA D1 receptor in the dorsal striatum.

Gut bacterial aromatic amine production: aromatic amino acid decarboxylase and its effects on peripheral serotonin production

“…Aromatic amines are among the compounds detected in the colon; 12 , 13 tryptamine, tyramine, and phenylethylamine (PEA) are typically known as the trace amines that can affect neurotransmission even in small amounts. 14 , 15 Diet and gut microbiota have been identified as sources of colonic luminal aromatic amines. Aromatic amines are found in fermented foods, 16 nuts, and citrus fruits 17 as well as in roasted coffee and cacao, where they are generated by Maillard- and Strecker reactions.…”

Metabolomic profiling of Wilson disease, an inherited disorder of copper metabolism, and diseases with similar symptoms but normal copper metabolism

“…Among the hydrophilic metabolites, the levels of phenylethylamine and L-tyrosine were decreased remarkably in the N-WD group. β-phenylethylamine is an endogenous neuroactive trace amine that is widespread in the human central nervous system, and previous research showed that it increased the synaptic levels of dopamine (DA) (13). L-tyrosine is a precursor of DA, and can effectively increase catecholaminergic activities, including those mediated by DA (14).…”

Catharanthine Modulates Mesolimbic Dopamine Transmission and Nicotine Psychomotor Effects via Inhibition of α6-Nicotinic Receptors and Dopamine Transporters

“…Locomotor activity test was performed as described previously. , Rats were acclimated to the open-field arena in an illuminated and sound-attenuated cubicle for three consecutive days (30 min/day). Locomotor activity was measured and recorded using a computer-based monochrome/near-infrared video camera on days 1, 4, and 7.…”