Effects of cocaine-levamisole on amino acid neurotransmitter in NMRI strain mice

We evaluated the effects of cocaine adulterated ("cut") with levamisole, an anthelmintic agent, 120 biomodels-NMRI mice, male young adult-age, with average weights of 28 ± 3 g. Are given pure cocaine, cocaine-levamisole in the proportions 80:20, 70:30 and 60:40, and levamisole pure intraperitoneally at doses of 15 mg kg-1 of weight for 6 weeks. The control group received saline during the same period of time. The effects were evaluated in brain regions of the cerebellum, hypothalamus and parietal cortex. The levels of neurotransmitters (NTS) inhibitory and excitatory amino acid are determined using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and is calculated by comparing peak areas with standards and the results are expressed in mol/100 mg of protein. Protein determinations are performed with the modified Lowry reagent by the method of Elisa immunoassay with bovine serum albumin as standard. The results show that levamisole certiorari cocaine increases levels of the NTS excitatory (aspartate and glutamate) 20-30% compared to cocaine alone group. The cocaine-levamisole group shows a greater percentage 60:40 excitation / inhibition level of all brain regions with marked effect at the hypothalamus with 3.45%. This would explain the aggressive behavior shown by biomodels subject to these doses. It is further noted that levamisole significantly depressed levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory NTS, with significant differences at P <0.05 compared to cocaine alone group and the control group. There is also evidence that levamisole increases the vertical and horizontal locomotors activity in number of times or frequencies/10 minutes on the cocaine-only group and the control group, explaining the fine motor in coordination of movement, with a marked effect on the cerebellum, where there is disproportionate increase in aspartate and glutamate, as it increased the proportions of the therapeutic agent and the drug decreased.The results could explain why levamisole exerts synergistic bypass hiperdespolarización cause clogging of the membrane receptors and increasing the effects of cocaine. This would result in impairment of transmission to the bodies and efferent neuronal death by attrition.