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Effects of DOM and DMT in a proposed animal model of hallucinogenic activity.

L M Adams, Mark A. Geyer

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 1985 DOI: 10.1016/0278-5846(85)90074-0 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Animal behavioral pharmacology experiment Peer reviewed
Population Rats tested in a behavioral pattern monitor
Interventions DOM DMT cyproheptadine
Dose DOM 0.3-1.0 mg/kg; DMT 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg; cyproheptadine 1.0 mg/kg
Topics DMT
Key findings All three hallucinogens (LSD, DOM, DMT) increased avoidance of novel and central areas, which the authors propose as a valid indicator of hallucinogenic activity. However, reduction of rearings, seen with LSD and DOM but not DMT and blockable by cyproheptadine, is argued to be an unsuitable model behavior.

Abstract

A previously proposed animal model of lysergic acid diethylamide's (LSD) effects in humans was tested for its applicability to other hallucinogens, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl amphetamine (DOM) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Both "free" and "forced" exploration tests in a behavioral pattern monitor were used to determine the effects of these hallucinogens on the normal tendencies of rats to avoid novel and central areas, respectively. The effects of DOM (0.3-1.0 mg/kg) were quite similar to those previously reported for LSD. Specifically, DOM reduced crossovers, holepokes, and rearings when rats were tested in a novel environment. In a familiar environment, only rearing activity was reduced with minimal effect on ambulation. Like LSD, entries into the central area were reduced in both situations. DOM also produced a dose-dependent reduction of entries into the novel chamber in a free exploration test. Pretreatment with the serotonin (5-HT) antagonist cyproheptadine (1.0 mg/kg), which does not block the psychological effects of hallucinogens in humans, selectively blocked DOM's reduction of rearings without altering DOM's reduction of center entries, crossovers, or holepokes. Like LSD and DOM, DMT (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg) produced a selective reduction of entries into the center region when rats were forced to explore a novel holeboard chamber. All three doses also selectively reduced holepoke responses without affecting crossovers or rearings. In conclusion, enhanced avoidance of novel and central areas appears to be a valid indicator of hallucinogenic activity since LSD, DMT, and DOM all share this property. Conversely, the reduction of rearings produced by LSD and DOM is not a suitable model behavior since the effect is not produced by DMT and cyproheptadine is capable of selectively blocking this effect.

Comparable studies

Other preclinical and animal studies on DMT, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The Hallucinogen N,N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Is an Endogenous Sigma-1 Receptor Regulator Mice and cell lines 2009 Experimental study
Correlation between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response assay and their behavioral and subjective effects in other species. C57BL/6J mice 2020 Experimental study with dose-response experiments
Psychedelic N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine modulate innate and adaptive inflammatory responses through the sigma-1 receptor of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Human primary monocyte-derived dendritic cells 2014 In vitro study
Inhibitory effect of chlorpromazine on the syndrome of hyperactivity produced by l‐tryptophan or 5‐methoxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine in rats treated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor Rats 1971 Experimental study
Effects of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine on Rat Behaviors Relevant to Anxiety and Depression Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats 2018 Experimental study

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