Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,045 records · Page 58Linked to original sources

Pharmacological characterization of a 5-HT receptor in locust nervous tissue.

A 5-HT receptor in the nervous tissue of the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forsk.) was investigated, using [3H]LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) as the radioligand. [3H]LSD labels in addition a putative dopamine receptor whose specific [3H]LSD binding nevertheless could easily be diminished by co-incubation with 1 microM dopamine. The binding site was characterized by a KD of 1.64 nM, and a maximal concentration of binding sites of 79.8 fmol/mg protein. Pharmacological investigation revealed a relatively low affinity for the putative natural agonist, serotonin (KI = 0.209 microM). In contrast to the high affinity of classical serotonergic antagonists (e.g. dihydroergotamine or (+)-butaclamol) substances with subtype specificity such as 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxyl-1-(N,N-dipropyl)-aminotetralin) or ketanserin have only moderate affinities. Quantitative comparison of the pharmacological data demonstrated that there is obviously no pharmacological homology with vertebrate 5-HT receptors characterized so far. The only receptors with a close pharmacological relationship to the 5-HT receptor of locusts are the 5-HTdro1 receptor expressed in Drosophila nervous tissue and a 5-HT receptor in snail nervous tissue which might be homologous to that of locusts. The 5-HT receptor investigated, was shown to be G-protein-coupled, as addition of stable GTP analogues or depletion of Mg2+ ions from the incubation medium led to agonist-specific lowering of the affinity.

Animals↗

The 5-HT1A receptor and the stimulus effects of LSD in the rat.

RATIONALE: It has been suggested that the 5-HT1A receptor plays a significant modulatory role in the stimulus effects of the indoleamine hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to characterize the effects of several compounds with known affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor on the discriminative stimulus effects of LSD. METHODS: Twelve male Fischer 344 rats were trained in a two-lever, fixed-ratio (FR) 10, and food-reinforced task with LSD (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.; 15-min pretreatment) as a discriminative stimulus. Combination and substitution tests with the 5-HT(1A) agonists, 8-OH-DPAT, buspirone, gepirone, and ipsapirone, with LSD-induced stimulus control were then performed. The effects of these 5-HT1A ligands were also tested in the presence of the selective 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, WAY-100,635 (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.; 30-min pretreatment). RESULTS: In combination tests, stimulus control by LSD was increased by all 5-HT1A receptor ligands with agonist properties. Similarly, in tests of antagonism, the increase in drug-appropriate responding caused by stimulation of the 5-HT1A receptor was abolished by administration of WAY-100,635. CONCLUSION: These data, obtained using a drug discrimination model of the hallucinogenic effects of LSD, provide support for the hypothesis that the 5-HT1A receptor has a significant modulatory role in the stimulus effects of LSD.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

LC-ESI-MS/MS on an ion trap for the determination of LSD, iso-LSD, nor-LSD and 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD in blood, urine and vitreous humor.

A method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), its epimer iso-LSD, and its main metabolites nor-LSD and 2-oxo-3-hydroxy LSD in blood, urine, and, for the first time, vitreous humor samples. The method is based on liquid/liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-multiple mass spectrometry detection in an ion trap mass spectrometer, in positive ion electrospray ionization conditions. Five microliter of sample are injected and analysis time is 12 min. The method is specific, selective and sensitive, and achieves limits of quantification of 20 pg/ml for both LSD and nor-LSD in blood, urine, and vitreous humor. No significant interfering substance or ion suppression was identified for LSD, iso-LSD, and nor-LSD. The interassay reproducibilities for LSD at 20 pg/ml and 2 ng/ml in urine were 8.3 and 5.6%, respectively. Within-run precision using control samples at 20 pg/ml and 2 ng/ml was 6.9 and 3.9%. Mean recoveries of two concentrations spiked into drug free samples were in the range 60-107% in blood, 50-105% in urine, and 65-105% in vitreous humor. The method was successfully applied to the forensic determination of postmortem LSD levels in the biological fluids of a multi drug abuser; for the first time, LSD could be detected in vitreous humor.

Forensic Toxicology↗

Naloxone alters the effects of LSD, DOM and quipazine on operant behavior of rats.

Administration of the indolealkylamine hallucinogen d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), the phenethylamine hallucinogen 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) and the putative 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) agonist quipazine all produced a dose-dependent decrease in fixed ratio (FR-40) response rates and a concomitant increase in the number of 10-second pause intervals. Although naloxone (4.0 mg/kg) had no effect on FR-40 responding per se, the pause-producing effects of LSD and, to a lesser extent, DOM were potentiated by pretreatment with naloxone. The action of quipazine on reinforcers was unaffected by combination with naloxone, while the effect on pause intervals was slightly attenuated by naloxone pretreatment. These data and previous studies suggest that the pause-producing effects of indolealkylamine and phenethylamine hallucinogens reflect their activation of a selective portion of brain 5-HT receptors. The potentiation of these effects by naloxone may relate to a modulation of central 5-HT systems by endogenous opioid mechanisms tending to restore an imbalance in various 5-HT pathways caused by the hallucinogenic 5-HT agonists. The more generalized disruptive effects of quipazine on brain 5-HT systems may be less susceptible to the endogenous opioid modulation or may actually combine with it to induce a greater disruption.

DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine↗

Decreased serotonergic receptor binding in rhombic lip-derived regions of the medulla oblongata in the sudden infant death syndrome.

The sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is postulated to result from a failure of homeostatic responses to life-threatening challenges (e.g. asphyxia, hypercapnia) during sleep. The ventral medulla participates in sleep-related homeostatic responses, including chemoreception, arousal, airway reflex control, thermoregulation, respiratory drive, and blood pressure regulation, in part via serotonin and its receptors. The ventral medulla in humans contains the arcuate nucleus, in which we have shown isolated defects in muscarinic and kainate receptor binding in SIDS victims. We also have demonstrated that the arcuate nucleus is anatomically linked to the nucleus raphé obscurus, a medullary region with serotonergic neurons. We tested the hypothesis that serotonergic receptor binding is decreased in both the arcuate nucleus and nucleus raphé obscurus in SIDS victims. Using quantitative autoradiography, 3H-lysergic acid diethylamide (3H-LSD binding) to serotonergic receptors (5-HT1A-D and 5-HT2 subtypes) was measured blinded in 19 brainstem nuclei. Cases were classified as SIDS (n = 52), acute controls (infants who died suddenly and in whom a complete autopsy established a cause of death) (n = 15), or chronic cases with oxygenation disorders (n = 17). Serotonergic binding was significantly lowered in the SIDS victims compared with controls in the arcuate nucleus (SIDS, 6 +/- 1 fmol/mg tissue; acutes, 19 +/- 1; and chronics, 16 +/- 1; p = 0.0001) and n. raphé obscurus (SIDS, 28 +/- 3 fmol/mg tissue; acutes, 66 +/- 6; and chronics, 59 +/- 1; p = 0.0001). Binding, however, was also significantly lower (p < 0.05) in 4 other regions that are integral parts of the medullary raphé/serotonergic system, and/or are derived, like the arcuate nucleus and nucleus raphé obscurus, from the same embryonic anlage (rhombic lip). These data suggest that a larger neuronal network than the arcuate nucleus alone is involved in the pathogenesis of SIDS, that is, a network composed of inter-related serotonergic nuclei of the ventral medulla that are involved in homeostatic mechanisms, and/or are derived from a common embryonic anlage.

Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus↗

Hallucinogen-like actions of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7) in mice and rats.

RATIONALE: Few studies have examined the effects of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7) in vivo. OBJECTIVES: 2C-T-7 was tested in a drug-elicited head twitch assay in mice and in several drug discrimination assays in rats; 2C-T-7 was compared to the phenylisopropylamine hallucinogen R(-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2aminopropane (DOM) in both assays, with or without pretreatment with the selective 5-HT2A antagonist (+)-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-[2-(4-fluorophenylethyl)]-4-piperidine-methanol (M100907). Finally, the affinity of 2C-T-7 for three distinct 5-HT receptors was determined in rat brain. METHODS: Drug-elicited head twitches were quantified for 10 min following administration of various doses of either 2C-T-7 or R(-)-DOM, with and without pretreatments of 0.01 mg/kg M100907. In rats trained to discriminate lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 2C-T-7 and R(-)-DOM were tested for generalization. In further studies, rats were trained to discriminate 2C-T-7 from saline, then challenged with 0.05 mg/kg M100907. In competition binding studies, the affinity of 2C-T-7 was assessed at 5-HT2A receptors, 5-HT1A receptors, and 5-HT2C receptors. RESULTS: 2C-T-7 and R(-)-DOM induced similar head twitch responses in the mouse that were antagonized by M100907. In the rat, 2C-T-7 produced an intermediate degree of generalization (75%) to the LSD cue and served as a discriminative stimulus; these interoceptive effects were attenuated by M100907. Finally, 2C-T-7 had nanomolar affinity for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors and lower affinity for 5-HT1A receptors. CONCLUSIONS: 2C-T-7 is effective in two rodent models of 5-HT2 agonist activity and has affinity at receptors relevant to hallucinogen effects. The effectiveness with which M100907 antagonizes the behavioral actions of 2C-T-7 strongly suggests that the 5-HT2A receptor is an important site of action for this compound.

DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine↗

Denervation supersensitivity to serotonin in rat forebrain: single cell studies.

To investigate the development of denervation supersensitivity to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) in the amygdala (AMYG) and the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN), single cell recordings, microiontophoretic, histochemical and biochemical techniques were used in the present study. 5-HT projections to the vLGN and the AMYG were destroyed by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT, a relatively selective toxin for 5-HT neurons) injected directly into the lateral ventricle or the ascending 5-HT pathway in the ventromedial tegmentum area. Enhanced responsiveness of cells to the inhibitory effect of microiontophoretically applied 5-HT (ionto-5-HT) began to develop within 24 h and approached a maximum 7 days after 5,7-DHT pretreatment. In general, the time courses for the reduction in both the density of 5-HT fluorescent varicosities and synaptosomal 5-HT uptake activity paralleled the time course for the development of denervation supersensitivity to 5-HT. During the first 2 days after 5,7-DHT, the enhanced sensitivity was selective for 5-HT; responses to D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), norepinephrine (NE) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were unchanged. Seven or more days after 5,7-DHT there was a marked increase of the responsiveness of neurons in the vLGN and the AMYG to both 5-HT and LSD (a 5-HT agonist which is not a substrate for the high affinity 5-HT uptake system). At these later times, the responsiveness of cells in the AMYG to NE and to a lesser extent GABA was also increased. In contrast to the marked supersensitivity seen after 5,7-DHT induced denervation, chronic administration of parachlorophenylalanine, a 5-HT synthesis inhibitor, failed to induce 5-HT supersensitivity.

5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine↗

Immunochemical extraction and detection of LSD in whole blood.

Polyclonal antibodies raised against the hallucinogenic drug, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), were used to detect and extract drug from whole blood samples. An indirect ELISA was used to detect as little as 1 pg of total drug in 25 microl blood. The limit of detection of the immunoassay, calculated from the mean - 3 SD was 39 pg/ml. The analytical recovery of LSD (2.5-0.2 ng/ml) from whole blood was 102-113%. Within-run CVs for LSD spiked in blood at 1.25, 0.16 and 0.04 ng/ml were 5.6, 3.1, and 8.9%, respectively (n = 4). There was an overall decrease in precision when whole blood was used in place of urine, due to the increased complexity of the matrix. However, using this technique LSD was calibrated in blood in the sub-ng/ml region of forensic interest. Immunoaffinity extraction was used to isolate LSD from blood and urine samples. The affinity support was prepared by covalently attaching anti-LSD antibodies to Protein A-coated agarose beads. No pre-treatment of the sample was required other than the addition of neutral buffer. Sub-ng/ml concentrations of LSD were routinely extracted from blood and urine samples with greater than 80% recovery of drug. This technique, which could be used to extract LSD from blood and urine samples prior to confirmatory drug analysis, could be completed in about 10 min.

Animals↗

Acute effects of morphine and opioid peptides on the motility and responses of rat colon to electrical stimulation.

1 Morphine and leucine- and methionine-enkephalins inhibited the contractile response of the pithed rat colon to electrical stimulation of the spinal motor outflows and inhibited motor responses of the isolated colon to field stimulation. 2 Morphine and the opioid peptides also had an excitatory action in the colon. In the pithed rat, opiates caused regular fluctuations in intracolonic pressure and in the isolated colon, caused regular waves of contraction. This excitatory response was produced by low concentrations of the enkephalins (2 X 10(-8) M, 2 X 10(-9) M), was stereospecific and was antagonized by naloxone. 3 Opiate-induced contractions in the isolated colon were inhibited by catecholamines, adenine nucleotides and by phosphodiesterase inhibitors. These contractions were unaffected by ergotamine and tolazoline, or by propranolol. 4 The excitatory action of opiates in the isolated colon was not antagonized and usually was potentiated by atropine, (+)-tubocurarine and hexamethonium. In the absence of opiates, these drugs also produced similar waves of contraction, which were unaffected by naloxone. 5 Opiate-induced contractions occurred in colon rendered unresponsive to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and these contractions were potentiated by the 5-HT antagonist, lysergic acid diethylamide, which, when administered alone, caused similar contractions. The 5-HT antagonist, cyproheptadine, inhibited opiate-induced contractions but was non-specific, since it also inhibited responses of the colon to carbachol and KC1. 6 Opiate-induced contractions were unaffected by procaine and were potentiated by tetrodotoxin. Both of these drugs, when administered alone, produced waves of contractions, which were similar to those produced by opiates but were unaffected by naloxone. 7 Contractions produced in the isolated colon either by opiates, atropine or (+)-tubocurarine, or any combination of these drugs, were inhibited by field stimulation applied at the peak of a wave of contraction. This inhibitory response to field stimulation occurred at low frequencies of stimulation (less than 10 Hz), and persisted in colon from rats pretreated with reserpine to deplete, or 6-hydroxydopamine to destroy, adrenergic nerve endings. It was unaffected by guanethidine but abolished by tetrodotoxin. 8 The implications of these results are considered and it is concluded that the excitatory action of opiates in the rat colon is probably not mediated by the release of acetylcholine or 5-HT but instead, may be due either to a direct action on smooth muscle or to a presynaptic inhibitory action at a ganglionic site in a non-adrenergic inhibitory mechanism, which normally suppresses myogenic activity.

Animals↗

Interaction of D-LSD with blood platelets of rabbits: shape change and specific binding.

In blood platelets of rabbits, the shape change-inducing effect of D-lysergic acid diethylamide (D-LSD) has been compared with the D-LSD-binding. D-LSD, but not L-LSD, caused a shape change reaction (EC50 1.3 x 10(-9) M) which was inhibited by various 5-HT antagonists (methergoline and neuroleptic drugs), butaclamol showing marked stereospecificity. Strong inhibitors of 5 HT uptake were only weak in counteracting the D-LSD-induced shape change. Furthermore, D-[3H]LSD bound to platelets at a single saturable, high affinity, stereoselective site [Kd = (31.1 +/- 3.3) x 10(-9) M; Bmax = 28.9 +/- 2.7 fmols per 10(8) platelets]. This binding was strongly antagonized by D-LSD and methergoline and less by the hallucinogenic drugs, psilocin, bufotenin and N'N'-dimethyltryptamine. L-LSD an 5 HT, inhibitors of 5 HT uptake and neuroleptics, especially spiroperidol and butaclamol, had only a weak antagonistic effect. The latter showed stereospecificity. It is concluded that 1) the shape change reaction caused by D-LSD in platelets is mediated by the specific 5 HT-receptor, 2) the sites mediating the D-LSD-induced shape change reaction are not identical with those responsible for D-[3H]LSD-binding and both these sites are different from the 5 HT-transport sites and 3) with respect to D-LSD-binding sites, platelets and neurons are not exactly identical.

Animals↗

Pharmacological characterization of solubilized 5-HT1 serotonin binding sites from bovine brain.

This report describes the pharmacologic characterization of [3H]serotonin binding activity solubilized from bovine frontal cortical membranes. The ability of a number of serotonin (5-HT) and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) analogs to compete with [3H]serotonin and D-[3H]LSD for binding to membrane and solubilized 5-HT1 sites has been investigated. The results indicate that the solubilized binding site is probably of the 5-HT1B type. Fifteen of the 21 compounds tested exhibit nearly identical affinity for membrane or solubilized 5-HT1 binding sites. However, some important differences were observed, and these may help elucidate the molecular structure of the binding site. In particular, some N-substituted tryptamine analogs show a markedly lower affinity for solubilized 5-HT1 sites compared to their binding to intact membranes. Further, the solubilized site does not distinguish stereoisomers of LSD: both D- and L-LSD bind to solubilized 5-HT1 sites with comparable high affinities, whereas D-LSD has a markedly higher affinity for the membrane 5-HT1 site. Methiothepin, which binds to the 5-HT1 site primarily through its amine groups, has virtually no affinity for the solubilized receptor, whereas it is quite potent at competing for [3H]serotonin binding to membrane sites. These observations lead to the conclusions that in bovine cortical membranes, the 5-HT1 site contains both indole and amine attachment sites. After solubilization, the indole attachment site retains its binding properties, but the amine attachment site has been significantly altered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amines↗

Platelet serotonin-2 receptors in schizophrenia: effects of illness and neuroleptic treatment.

To examine the role of serotonin2 (5-hydroxytryptamine2, 5-HT2) receptors in schizophrenia, we determined the binding indices of 5-HT2 receptors using 125I-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) as the radioligand in platelets obtained from 40 normal control subjects and 42 drug-free schizophrenic patients. We also examined the effect of neuroleptic drug treatment on the binding parameters (Bmax and Kd) of 5-HT2 receptors in platelets of schizophrenic patients. We observed that the Bmax of 125I-LSD binding in platelets of schizophrenic patients was significantly higher than in platelets of normal subjects. There was no significant difference, however, between the Kd of 125I-LSD binding in platelets of schizophrenic patients and normal control subjects. Furthermore, we found no correlation between Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores and either Bmax or Kd of 125I-LSD binding at the end of the drug washout period. We also observed that neither treatment with haloperidol nor treatment with thiothixine caused significant changes in Bmax and Kd of 125I-LSD binding in platelets of schizophrenic patients. However, both fluphenazine and trifluoperazine did significantly increase the Bmax of 125I-LSD binding without any significant change in the Kd values in platelets of schizophrenic patients. Our results thus suggest that platelet 5-HT2 receptors are increased in schizophrenia and that chronic treatment with fluphenazine and trifluoperazine, but not haloperidol or thiothixine, further increases the 5-HT2 receptor binding sites in platelets of schizophrenic patients.

Adult↗

Epimerization studies of LSD using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

A study was conducted to determine the conditions needed to achieve the equilibrium concentration for the epimerization of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) to iso-LSD. The reaction was followed by integration of the C-9 resonance of LSD and iso-LSD by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The C-9 resonance of LSD and iso-LSD appear as singlets at 6.35 and 6.27 ppm respectively. Starting with pure LSD, the conversion to iso-LSD is attained at temperatures above 37 degrees C and pH levels over 7.0. At a pH of 7.0 or higher, the LSD/iso-LSD ratio of 9:1 is achieved after one week at 45 degrees C or two weeks at 37 degrees C. Starting with iso-LSD, the conversion to LSD requires more vigorous conditions. The 9:1 LSD/iso-LSD ratio is attained only after 6 weeks at a temperature of 45 degrees C and a pH of 9.7. At lower pH levels, the reaction proceeds more slowly. The 9:1 LSD/iso-LSD ratio is achieved whether the starting material is LSD or iso-LSD and therefore represents an equilibrium concentration (K = 9). In addition, the more vigorous conditions needed to achieve equilibrium of iso-LSD to LSD demonstrate the difficulty in extraction of the epimerizable proton of iso-LSD. This study is the first to quantitate the epimerization of LSD by NMR techniques and establishes the conditions needed to induce epimerization in solution.

Drug Stability↗

Drug discrimination and receptor binding studies of N-isopropyl lysergamide derivatives.

Isopropyl (IPLA), N-methyl-N-isopropyl (MIPLA), N-ethyl-N-isopropyl (EIPLA), and N,N-diisopropyl (DIPLA) lysergamides were evaluated for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-like activity. In rats trained to discriminate 0.08 mg/kg LSD tartrate from saline, each of the subject compounds completely substituted, with an ED50 two to three times larger than that of LSD except for DIPLA, which had an ED50 about eightfold greater. Similarly, all the compounds displaced [125I](R)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane ([125I]DOI) from rat cortical homogenates and displaced [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT) from rat hippocampal homogenates with KI values similar to those of LSD, again with the exception of DIPLA, which had about nine- and fourfold lower affinities, respectively. Interestingly, all the compounds had four- to fivefold lower affinities than LSD in displacing [3H]ketanserin from 5-HT2 binding sites. Molecular modeling studies found that all the compounds had low energy conformations similar to LSD. No correlation between the activity of the compounds and the preferred conformation of the amide substituents was apparent. In summary, N-alkyl-N-isopropyl analogs of LSD retain LSD-like activity in drug discrimination and 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 agonist binding assays only until the N-alkyl substitution is as large as ethyl; LSD-like activity dramatically drops when the second alkyl substituent is N-isopropyl.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

In vivo binding of 125I-LSD to serotonin 5-HT2 receptors in mouse brain.

The binding of 125I-LSD (2-[125I]-lysergic acid diethylamide) was studied in various mouse brain regions following intravenous injection of the radioligand. The high specific activity of 125I-LSD enabled the injection of low mass doses (14 ng/kg), which are well below the threshold for induction of any known physiological effect of the probe. The highest levels of 125I-LSD binding were found in the frontal cortex, olfactory tubercles, extra-frontal cortex and striatum while the lowest level was found in the cerebellum. Binding was saturable in the frontal cortex but increased linearly in the cerebellum with increasing doses of 125I-LSD. Serotonergic compounds potently inhibited 125I-LSD binding in cortical regions, olfactory tubercles, and hypothalamus but had no effect in the cerebellum. Dopaminergic compounds caused partial inhibition of binding in the striatum while adrenergic compounds were inactive. From these studies we conclude that 125I-LSD labels serotonin 5-HT2 receptor sites in cortical regions with no indication that other receptor sites are labeled. In the olfactory tubercles and hypothalamus, 125I-LSD labeling occurs predominantly or entirely at serotonin 5-HT2 sites. In the striatum, 125I-LSD labels approximately equal proportions of serotonergic and dopaminergic sites. This data indicates that 125I-LSD labels serotonin receptors in vivo and suggests that appropriate derivatives of 2I-LSD may prove useful for tomographic imaging of serotonin 5-HT2 receptors in the mammalian cortex.

Animals↗

Differential effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the activity of serotonin-containing neurons in the nucleus centralis superior and nucleus raphe pallidus in freely moving cats.

Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that there are a number of important dissociations between the effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the activity of serotonin-containing dorsal raphe neurons and behavior in freely moving cats. In the present study, we extended this analysis to serotonergic units in the nucleus centralis superior (NCS) and nucleus raphe pallidus (RPA). Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) produced a dose-dependent decrease in NCS unit activity at 10, 50 and 100 micrograms/kg (i.p.) and a dose-dependent increase in certain behaviors (e.g., limb flicking and abortive grooming) and the peak behavioral and unit changes were temporally correlated. By contrast, LSD had little effect on serotonin-containing RPA neurons. 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) also produced a dose-dependent decrease in NCS unit activity at 10, 50 and 250 micrograms/kg (i.m.) and dose-dependent behavioral changes. Similar to our LSD data, 5-MeODMT was found to have no overall significant effect on RPA unit activity, except at the highest dose level. Psilocin produced dose-dependent decreases in NCS unit activity at 25, 100 and 750 micrograms/kg (i.p.), whereas the behavioral changes were not dose-related. Psilocin also had relatively little effect on the activity of RPA neurons. The phenylethylamine hallucinogens, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (50, 250 and 1000 micrograms/kg i.p.) (DOM) and mescaline (5000 micrograms/kg i.p.), both produced large behavioral changes, but no overall significant effect on raphe unit activity in either the NCS or RPA. These data suggest that ascending dorsal raphe and NCS neurons may be involved in the process of hallucinogenesis, whereas descending RPA neurons do not appear to be involved in this process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Characterization of the discriminative stimulus properties induced by 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 agonists in rats.

The effect of different serotonin (5-HT) agonists and antagonists on the discriminative stimulus properties (cue) induced by 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OHDPAT), 1-(m-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP) and d-LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) has been investigated. The 8-OHDPAT cue was mimicked by the 5-HT1A agonists ipsapirone, buspirone, gepirone and partially by 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and d-LSD. 5-HT1B (TFMPP and RU 24969) and 5-HT2 agonists (DOM, DOI and quipazine) were ineffective and induced disruption of responding. The 8-OHDPAT cue was antagonized by spiroxatrine and partially by (-)-alprenolol, whereas selective antagonists of 5-HT2 (ketanserin and ritanserin), 5-HT3 (ICS 205-930), alpha 1-adrenergic (prazosin) and beta-adrenergic receptors (ICI 118.551) were ineffective. The TFMPP cue was mimicked by RU 24969 and partially by quipazine. Other compounds were ineffective. Only (-)-alprenolol antagonized the effect of TFMPP. The d-LSD cue was mimicked by DOM, DOI, quipazine, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and partially by ipsapirone, TFMPP and RU 24969. The 3 latter compounds and 5-HT1A agonists induced disruption of responding. The d-LSD cue was antagonized by ketanserin and ritanserin, but not by the other antagonists mentioned above. The specific inhibitor of 5-HT uptake citalopram was not able to substitute for any of the 3 agonists. It is concluded that the drug discrimination technique can be used to identify selective agonists and antagonists of 5-HT receptor subtypes. Compounds with mixed effects on 5-HT receptor subtypes can also be identified. These show additional effects on reaction time and often disrupt responding at higher dosages.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

[The dopaminergic and serotoninergic components of the self-stimulation reaction of the lateral hypothalamus in rats with disruption of the medial prefrontal cortex].

Amphetamine (1 mg/kg) promoted a pedal self-stimulation of lateral hypothalamus of Wistar rats in the Skinner box. An unipolar lesion of medical prefrontal cortex with kainic acid 10-14 days prior to an experiment did not prevent the facilitating effect of amphetamine on self-stimulation, though the levels of hypothalamic noradrenaline and dopamine are 43% and 4.5-fold decreased respectively, the hypothalamic serotonin concentration not changing. Lysergic acid diethylamid (10 mkg/kg) did not influence on self-stimulation response in rats with damaged medial prefrontal cortex, but after preliminary administration prevented the stimulating effect of amphetamine on self-stimulation of lateral hypothalamus. The data are discussed from the point of view of a hypothesis that the phenomenon obtained is associated with the presence of a hypothalamic autoregulatory dopaminergic system providing the realization of self-stimulation. However, it does not exclude that the modulating influence of medial prefrontal cortex on lateral hypothalamus is connected with not only dopaminergic but with serotoninergic axons too.

Amphetamine↗