Serotonin-degradative pathways in the toad (Bufo bufo japonicus) brain: clues to the pharmacological analysis of human psychiatric disorders.
N Takeda
Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Pharmacology, toxicology and endocrinology February 1, 1994 DOI: 10.1016/1367-8280(94)90051-5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Toad Bufo bufo japonicus and human infant autistic patients |
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Citations | 9 |
| Key findings | Bufotenine and N-methylserotonin accumulate in the hindbrain of the toad during serotonin degradation, and bufotenine detected in urine from infant autistic patients may be a marker for autism diagnosis. |
Abstract
Bufotenine (BUTN) is a hallucinogen with psychotropic effects. High levels of BUTN and its precursor, N-methylserotonin are shown for the first time to occur and to accumulate mainly in the brain during the degradation of serotonin in the central nervous system of the toad, Bufo bufo japonicus. These compounds are concentrated in the hindbrain, which includes the cerebellum and medulla oblongata. BUTN can also be detected in blood and urine specimens from the toad. In humans, autism is a subtype of schizophrenia that appears to be a functional disease of the brain. BUTN can be detected in urine specimens from infant autistic patients. Analysis by three-dimensional HPLC suggests that the presence and levels of BUTN may be important markers for the diagnosis of autism. It appears, therefore, that some aspects of the central nervous system of Bufo may provide useful pharmacological clues to the etiology of human psychiatric diseases, such as autism, that are known to be linked to the methylation of serotonin.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on serotonin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic effects of psilocybin correlate with serotonin 2A receptor occupancy and plasma psilocin levels Healthy volunteers | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 8 |
| Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Abstinent MDMA users | 1998 | Observational cohort | |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| The Serotonin System and Spiritual Experiences Normal male subjects, ages 20-45 years | 2003 | Observational cohort | n = 15 |
| Whole-Brain Multimodal Neuroimaging Model Using Serotonin Receptor Maps Explains Non-linear Functional Effects of LSD. Healthy human participants | 2018 | Observational study with computational modeling |