Opposite effects of intraventricular serotonin and bufotenin on rat startle responses.
Mark A. Geyer, J D Warbritton, D B Menkes, John A. Zook, Arnold J. Mandell
Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior 1975 DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(75)90193-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | 5-hydroxytrptamine (5-HT) 5-hydroxy-N saline |
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Citations | 34 |
| Key findings | Serotonin decreased startle responses dose-dependently, while the hallucinogen 5-HDMT increased startle magnitude, with no specific effects on sensitization or habituation. |
Abstract
Rat startle responses to air puffs were monitored in a stabilimeter during the intraventricular infusion of various doses of 5-hydroxytrptamine (5-HT) or the putative hallucinogenic congener of 5-HT, 5-hydroxy-N, N-dimethyltrytamine (5-HDMT) or saline. Qualitativity opposite effects were observed, with 5-HT producing a dose-dependent decrease in responsivity and 5-HDMT increasing the magnitude of startle responses. No specific effects of either compound could be demonstrated on the presumably separable processes of sensitization and habituation. The results are discussed in the context of a central serotonergic system which facilitates behavioral inhibition and which is antagonized by indoleamine hallucinogens.