Transient reinforcing effects of phenylisopropylamine and indolealkylamine hallucinogens in rhesus monkeys
William E Fantegrossi, James H Woods, Gail Winger
Behavioural Pharmacology March 1, 2004 DOI: 10.1097/00008877-200403000-00007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4 |
| Population | Rhesus monkeys with a history of MDMA self-administration |
| Interventions | DMT mescaline psilocybin DOI |
| Topics | MDMA Mescaline Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Self-administration Pharmacology Saline Scratching |
| Citations | 99 |
| Key findings | Hallucinogenic compounds DMT, mescaline, and psilocybin produced transient self-administration in some monkeys, but no compound generated reliable responding and DOI was not self-administered above saline levels. |
Abstract
Relatively few studies have assessed the reinforcing effects of hallucinogenic compounds, and no such studies have attempted to engender contingent responding for these compounds in animals with behavioral histories that include experience with serotonergically mediated reinforcing effects. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the capacity of several hallucinogenic compounds to maintain self-administration behavior in rhesus monkeys with a previous history of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) self-administration, and to compare these effects across a range of doses of drugs from two structural classes (indolealkylamines and phenylisopropylamines). The results indicate that no compound generated reliable responding and that no subject ever self-administered 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine (DOI) at rates above those engendered by contingent saline. However, 3 out of 4 subjects did respond at rates between 0.75 and 3.0 responses/s in one or more sessions where N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), mescaline or psilocybin were available. During some of these sessions in which self-administration was maintained, animals earned a majority of all available infusions and appeared intoxicated by the end of the session. This pattern of transient self-administration may indicate that these compounds have weak reinforcing effects, or mixed reinforcing and aversive effects.