Behavioral effects of 5-methoxy-N:N-dimethyltryptamine, other tryptamines, and LSD
Peter K. Gessner, Irvine H. Page
American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content July 1, 1962 DOI: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1962.203.1.167 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Trained rats |
| Interventions | 5-Methoxy-N:N-dimethyltryptamine N:N-dimethyltryptamine N:N-diethyltryptamine 5-hydroxy-N:N-dimethyltryptamine (bufotenine) LSD-25 |
| Dose | 19 µm/kg for 5-MeO-DMT; 25 µm/kg for DMT, DET, bufotenine; 6 µm/kg for LSD-25 |
| Topics | Psilocybin Serotonin 5-MeO-DMT DMT LSD |
| Keywords | Tryptamines Hallucinogen Psychotomimetic Pharmacology |
| Citations | 64 |
| Key findings | 5-Methoxy-N:N-dimethyltryptamine had a more pronounced effect on the conditioned avoidance response in rats than other substituted tryptamines, comparable to LSD-25, suggesting a potential link between abnormal tryptophan metabolism and mental disturbance. |
Abstract
The effect of 5-methoxy-N:N-dimethyltryptamine on the conditioned avoidance response of trained rats was compared quantitatively, using a shuttle-box, with that of several substituted tryptamines and LSD-25. 5-Methoxy-N:N-dimethyltryptamine, at a dose level of 19 µm/kg, had a pronounced effect on the conditioned avoidance response, much more pronounced than that due to the known psychotomimetic substituted tryptamines: N:N-dimethyltryptamine, N:N-diethyltryptamine, and 5-hydroxy-N:N-dimethyltryptamine (bufotenine) at the higher dose level of 25 µm/kg. A similar response was elicited by LSD-25 at a dose level of 6 µm/kg. Both hydroxyindole-O-methylase and an enzyme capable of N-methylating indoleethylamines occur in mammals. This circumstance makes it possible to form 5-methoxy-N:N-dimethyltryptamine from such substrates as serotonin. The pronounced behavioral effect of this and similar methoxyindolealkylamine suggests that abnormal tryptophan metabolism could result in mental disturbance.