Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39630237›Full record

ArticlePsychopharmacology2025

SK609, a novel dopamine D3 receptor agonist and norepinephrine transporter blocker with putative pro-cognitive actions, does not induce psychostimulant-like increases in risky choice during probabilistic discounting.

Christopher P Knapp, Brooke Fallon, Sandhya Kortagere, Barry D Waterhouse, Stan B Floresco, Rachel L Navarra

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psychopharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Christopher P KnappDepartment of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
Brooke FallonDepartment of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
Sandhya KortagereDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University, 2900 W. Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA.
Barry D WaterhouseDepartment of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
Stan B FlorescoDepartment of Psychology and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Rachel L NavarraDepartment of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Suite 2200, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA. navarra@rowan.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4893-5468

Funding

New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research CBIR19IRG025New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research CBIR20PIL004Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Osteopathic Heritage FoundationU.S. Department of Defense W81XWH-22-1-0616U.S. Department of Defense W81XWH-22-1-0618
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationalePsychostimulants, such as amphetamine (AMPH) and methylphenidate (MPH), non-selectively elevate extracellular concentrations of the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), and are common pharmacological strategies used to improve prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent cognitive dysfunction. However, this approach can be problematic given AMPH has been shown to increase preference for risky choices in a rodent assay of risk/reward decision making. SK609 is a novel NE reuptake blocker that selectively activates DA D3 receptors without affinity for the DA transporter. SK609 has been shown to improve cognitive performance without increasing psychostimulant-like spontaneous locomotor activity, suggesting SK609 may benefit neurocognitive function without psychostimulant-like side effect liability.

objectivesWe compared AMPH, MPH, and SK609 within dose ranges that display their cognitive enhancing properties in a probabilistic discounting task (PDT) of risk/reward decision making behavior to assess their potential to increase risky choice preference.

methodsRats chose between small/certain rewards delivered with 100% certainty and large/risky rewards delivered with descending probabilities across a session (100 - 6.25%) following administration of AMPH (0.25-1 mg/kg), MPH (2-8 mg/kg), and SK609 (4 mg/kg).

resultsAMPH and MPH increased risky choice behavior at doses previously reported to enhance cognition, whereas SK609 did not. AMPH and MPH also reduced sensitivity to non-rewarded risky choices.

conclusionsThese data highlight the combination of NE transporter blockade and selective D3 activation in pro-cognitive action without psychostimulant-like side effect liability. The absence of DA transporter blockade and non-selective dopaminergic activation are beneficial properties of SK609 that differentiates it from the traditional pro-cognitive psychostimulants.

Indexed as

Central Nervous System StimulantsChoice BehaviorCognitionDopamine AgonistsNorepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsReceptors, Dopamine D3AmphetamineAnimalsDecision MakingDelay DiscountingDose-Response Relationship, DrugMaleMethylphenidateRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyRewardAmphetamineCentral Nervous System StimulantsDopamine AgonistsMethylphenidateNorepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsReceptors, Dopamine D3AmphetamineDecision makingDopamine D3 receptorMethylphenidateNorepinephrine transporter

Identifiers

PMID39630237
PMCPMC12084264

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.