Mescaline: Its effects on learning rate and dopamine metabolism in goldfish (Carassius auratus)
E. A. Zeller, Gregory S. Couper, Shankar V. Huprikar, Alan M. Mellow, Rebecca Moody
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences November 1, 1976 DOI: 10.1007/bf01937429 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Goldfish (Carassius auratus) |
| Interventions | mescaline apomorphine L-dopa fluphenazine |
| Duration | Short term (high doses) and 3 days (smaller doses) |
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Keywords | Carassius auratus Dopamine Pharmacology |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | High mescaline doses increase learning rates in goldfish, but prolonged exposure to smaller doses reduces shock-avoidance behavior, likely due to a dopamine deficit after MAO breakdown. |
Abstract
The pharmacological action of mescaline on goldfish was studied with the Bitterman-Agranoff shock-avoidance test. In short term experiments with high mescaline doses an increase in learning rates was observed. Similar results were obtained with apomorphine and L-dopa. However, when the fish were exposed to smaller mescaline doses (or to fluphenazine) for 3 days, their ability to avoid electric shock was reduced. Apparently, mescaline induced a release of dopamine which stimulated central dopaminergic systems. Subsequently, MAO destroys the liberated dopamine. Thus, the ensuing dopamine deficit appears to be responsible for the marked changes in behavior in the chronic experiment.
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 |