Psychopharmacology
April 1, 2009
Lisa E Baker, John J Panos, Bryan A Killinger et al.
57 citations
Salvinorin A, the active compound in the hallucinogenic plant Salvia divinorum, produces its effects through kappa opioid receptors. In experiments with male Sprague-Dawley rats trained to discriminate between two different kappa opioid agonists (U69,593 or U50,488), salvinorin A and two synthetic derivatives of salvinorin B fully substituted for the training drugs, indicating they produce similar internal sensations. Additional rats trained to discriminate salvinorin A also recognized the other kappa agonists. These results confirm that salvinorin A's discriminative stimulus effects are mediated by kappa receptors, supporting the potential use of salvinorin A analogs as therapeutic agents for conditions like drug dependence and mood disorders.
Behavioural Pharmacology
April 1, 1995
Lisa E Baker, Jonathan M. Broadbent, E. K. Michael et al.
52 citations
In rats trained to distinguish either the (+)- or (-)-isomer of MDMA from saline, both isomers of MDMA and MDA fully substituted for the training drugs. Stimulants like amphetamine and cocaine did not substitute. Hallucinogens such as DOM, LSD, and mescaline did not fully substitute for (+)-MDMA; LSD substituted for (-)-MDMA only at a specific dose. The serotonin-releasing agents fenfluramine and p-chloroamphetamine substituted partially or fully for both isomers. Serotonin receptor antagonists pirenpirone and metergoline did not consistently block MDMA's effects. The findings suggest that serotonin release, but not action at 5-HT(2) receptors, is important for the discriminative stimulus effects of MDMA isomers.
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
September 1, 2010
Bryan A Killinger, Mary M Peet, Lisa E Baker
41 citations
Salvinorin A, the active compound in Salvia divinorum, is an atypical hallucinogen that selectively binds to kappa opioid receptors and is structurally distinct from other opioids. In a drug discrimination study, 16 male rats trained to recognize either LSD or ketamine did not generalize to salvinorin A, meaning the rats did not treat it as similar to those hallucinogens. This supports evidence that salvinorin A is pharmacologically distinct from traditional hallucinogens like LSD and ketamine, offering a unique tool for studying the neurochemical mechanisms of hallucination.
Behavioural Pharmacology
September 1, 2011
Mary Melissa Peet, Lisa E Baker
21 citations
Two synthetic derivatives of salvinorin A, EOM-Sal B and MOM-Sal B, fully substituted for salvinorin A in rats trained to discriminate the drug, and both were more potent than the parent compound. EOM-Sal B also produced effects that lasted longer than salvinorin A. Morphine and one hallucinogen failed to substitute, but ketamine and LSD partially substituted. The findings suggest that these derivatives produce similar stimulus effects to salvinorin A, which are distinct from other drug classes, and warrant further study.
Behavioural Pharmacology
December 1, 2020
Keli A. Herr, Lisa E Baker
9 citations
In rats trained to distinguish LSD from saline, the drug's effects were largely similar between males and females, though some differences emerged with other substances. Both sexes showed comparable substitution by serotonergic hallucinogens. Partial substitution by MDMA, MDA enantiomers, and synthetic cathinones differed modestly between sexes. Dopamine antagonists did not block the LSD cue and suppressed behavior more in males. The serotonin antagonist MDL 100,907 blocked LSD discrimination in both sexes, but complete blockade occurred at lower doses in males. These findings confirm the central role of serotonin in LSD's effects and extend this to females, suggesting further research on sex differences in psychedelic effects is warranted.
Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research
January 1, 2022
Catherine N. Conway, Lisa E Baker
6 citations
LSD produces transient anxiogenic, not anxiolytic, effects in rats. In a light/dark test, rats given LSD entered the brightly lit compartment less often and spent less time there, in a dose-dependent manner. In an elevated plus maze, rats tested 48 hours after the last of five LSD injections entered and spent more time in closed arms than open arms, indicating anxiety; this effect was absent in rats tested 72 hours after the last injection. The authors suggest that because psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy shows positive clinical outcomes for anxiety and depression, different preclinical models may be needed to understand the therapeutic mechanisms of serotonergic hallucinogens.
The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics
September 18, 2024
Candace B Johnson, Donna Walther, Matthew J. Baggott et al.
5 citations
MDMA is effective as a treatment for PTSD but carries cardiovascular and neurological risks. Researchers tested two new compounds, 5-MABB and 6-MABB, in rat brain tissue and in live rats trained to recognize MDMA. The S isomers of both compounds released serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, similar to MDMA. The R isomers released serotonin and partially released norepinephrine but not dopamine. All compounds caused rats to respond as if they had received MDMA, with effects increasing with dose. The R isomers were less potent behaviorally. The findings suggest the aminoalkyl benzofuran structure is a promising starting point for developing safer MDMA-like drugs.