Ibogaine acts at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to inhibit catecholamine release.
S J Mah, Y Tang, P E Liauw, J E Nagel, A S Schneider
Brain Research June 22, 1998 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(98)00207-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | In vitro experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Cultured bovine chromaffin cells |
| Intervention | Ibogaine |
| Dose | 10 microM |
| Duration | At least 19 hours following ibogaine washout |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Natural compound Drug Substance Nicotine addiction treatment Smoking cessation Addiction therapy Anti-addiction Dependency treatment Neuropharmacology Brain research Receptor biology Brain receptors Nerve cells Signaling chemicals Receptor modulation Receptor interaction Receptor antagonist Pharmacological mechanism Mechanism of action |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key findings | Ibogaine selectively inhibits nicotinic receptor-mediated catecholamine release at low concentrations, an effect not mediated by kappa opioid receptors. |
Abstract
In an effort to determine mechanisms of action of the putative anti-addictive agent ibogaine, we have measured its effects on catecholamine release in a model neuronal system, cultured bovine chromaffin cells. Various modes of stimulating catecholamine release were used including nicotinic ACh receptor activation, membrane depolarization with elevated K+ and Na+ channel activation with veratridine. In addition, because ibogaine has been reported to interact with kappa opioid receptors, we tested whether kappa receptor antagonists could reverse ibogaine's effects on catecholamine release. Ibogaine, at low concentration (<10 microM) was found to selectively inhibit nicotinic receptor-mediated catecholamine release, while having no significant effect on release evoked by either veratridine or membrane depolarization with elevated K+. The inhibitory actions of ibogaine and the kappa agonists were not reversed by preincubation with the opioid antagonists nor-binaltorphimine or naltrexone, suggesting that these inhibitory effects are not mediated by the kappa opioid receptor. The effects of low dose (10 microM) ibogaine were rapidly reversible, while the inhibitory effects of higher ibogaine doses persisted for at least 19 h following ibogaine washout. The results provide evidence for a mechanism of action ibogaine at the nicotinic ACh receptor. The results are consistent with a model in which the initial high transient brain concentrations (100 microM) of ibogaine act at multiple cellular sites and then have a selective action at the nicotinic ACh receptor cation channel following its metabolism to lower brain concentrations. The present findings are relevant to potential anti-addictive actions of ibogaine and to the development of drugs to combat nicotine addiction.