Studies on Accumulation of (14C)-Mescaline in Brain Homogenates: Effects of Psychotropic and Other Agents
Nandkumar S. Shah, Om D. Gulati
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rat brain homogenates |
| Interventions | chlorpromazine trifluoperazine fluphenazine imipramine desmethylimipramine nortriptyline amitriptyline |
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Keywords | Imipramine Tricyclic Chlorpromazine Pharmacology Hallucinogen Phenothiazine Trifluoperazine Nortriptyline Fluphenazine Amitriptyline Plant-based medicinal research |
| Key findings | High concentrations of tranquilizers and tricyclic antidepressants inhibit mescaline accumulation in rat brain pellets without affecting its metabolism, potentially explaining worsened hallucinogenic poisoning with tranquilizers. |
Abstract
Incubation of rat brain homogenates or 14,500 g pellet isolated from the homogenate with (14C)-mescaline was associated with accumulation of (14C)-mescaline in the pellet. 1.33 mumol/ml of chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, fluphenazine, imipramine, desmethylimipramine, nortriptyline and amitriptyline inhibited the accumulation of mescaline. Lower concentrations (0.133-0.44 mumol/ml) of the psychotropic drugs were less effective. The tricyclic antidepressants were less potent than the tranquilizers. Although the trimethoxyphenylacetic acid (TMPA) levels of the pellet were also reduced by the psychotropic drugs, the TMPA:mescaline ratios were unchanged indicating that the drugs had no effect on the metabolism of mescaline. The inhibition of accumulation of mescaline by the high concentrations of tranquilizers may divert more of the hallucinogen to the receptor site. Thus, an explanation for the reported worsening of clinical syndrome of hallucinogenic poisoning by tranquilizers is provided.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on mescaline, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enzymatic Formation of Psychotomimetic Metabolites from Normally Occurring Compounds Rabbit lung | 1961 | Experimental study | |
| PSYCHOTOMIMETICS, CLINICAL AND THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS: HARMINE, WIN-2299 AND NALLINE Schizophrenic patients | 1957 | Experimental study | |
| Phencyclidine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, and Mescaline: Cerebral Artery Spasms and Hallucinogenic Activity Isolated basilar and middle cerebral arteries | 1981 | Experimental study | |
| Acquired and Crossed Tolerance to Mescaline, LSD-25, and BOL-148 | 1959 | Experimental study | |
| Effects of Hallucinogenic and Tranquilizing Drugs on Serotonin Evoked Uterine Contractions. Uterus of spayed rat | 1956 | Experimental study |