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Chromosomal Damage in Human Leukocytes Induced by Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

Maimon M. Cohen, Michelle J. Marinello, Nathan Back

Science March 17, 1967 DOI: 10.1126/science.155.3768.1417 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Experimental study Peer reviewed
Population Cultured human leukocytes and one human patient
Intervention Lysergic acid diethylamide
Duration 4-year period for the patient
Topics LSD
Citations 199
Key findings LSD exposure in cultured human leukocytes and in one patient led to a marked increase in chromosomal abnormalities, with breaks accumulating in chromosome 1.

Abstract

Addition of lysergic acid diethylamide to cultured human leukocytes resulted in a marked increase of chromosomal abnormalities. The distribution of chromosome breaks deviated significantly from random, with an accumulation of aberrations in chromosome No. 1. Cytogenetic investigation of a patient extensively treated with this drug over a 4-year period for paranoid schizophrenia showed a similar increase in chromosomal damage.