Skip to content

Behavioral sensitivity to LSD: Dependency upon the pattern of central 5HT depletion

James A. Joseph, James B. Appel

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior May 1, 1977 DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(77)90108-3 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Experimental study Peer reviewed
Population Rats
Interventions p-chloroamphetamine 5 7-dihydroxytryptamine p-chlorophenylalanine LSD
Dose 0.02 mg/kg
Duration 12 days after 5,7-DHT administration
Topics Serotonin LSD
Keywords 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine 5-HT Receptor P-chloroamphetamine Sensitivity control systems Endocrinology Pharmacology
Citations 18
Key findings Only 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, not p-chloroamphetamine, increased sensitivity to a low dose of LSD, disrupting bar-press behavior, suggesting a specific pattern of serotonin depletion is required.

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out using a fixed ratio (FR) schedule of water reinforcement to determine the efficacy of two serotonin (5HT) depleting agents (p-chloroamphetamine, 5, 7-dihydroxytryptamine) in altering sensitivity to a low dose of LSD (0.02 MG/KG). The results showed that while both p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) and 5, 7 dihydroxytryptamine (5, 7 DHT) were efficacious in reducing whole brain 5HT, only 5, 7 DHT altered LSD sensitivity such that a 0.02 mg/kg dose of LSD given 12 days after 5, 7 DHT administration disrupted bar press behavior. This was not observed in animals given PCA within similar parameters. Moreover, 4 animals given PCA that did not show increased sensitivity to LSD, did show behavioral disruption to LSD (0.02 mg/kg when they were pretreated with p-chlorophenylalanine, Results are discussed on terms of a possible particular pattern of 5HT depletion that must be achieved before sensitivity to LSD is observed.

Explore topics