Differential effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the activity of serotonin-containing neurons in the nucleus centralis superior and nucleus raphe pallidus in freely moving cats.
Michael E. Trulson, D W Preussler, V M Trulson
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 1984 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3565(25)21616-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Freely moving cats |
| Interventions | Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) 5-methoxy-N N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) Psilocin 2 Mescaline |
| Dose | LSD 10, 50, 100 micrograms/kg (i.p.); 5-MeODMT 10, 50, 250 micrograms/kg (i.m.); Psilocin 25, 100, 750 micrograms/kg (i.p.); DOM 50, 250, 1000 micrograms/kg (i.p.); Mescaline 5000 micrograms/kg (i.p.) |
| Topics | LSD Serotonin |
| Keywords | Brain stem Raphe nuclei Neurons Animals Cats Hallucinogens Behavior, animal Membrane potentials Dose-response relationship, drug Time factors Female |
| Key findings | LSD, 5-MeODMT, and psilocin produced dose-dependent decreases in nucleus centralis superior (NCS) unit activity, with LSD's behavioral and unit changes temporally correlated, but had little effect on nucleus raphe pallidus (RPA) neurons. DOM and mescaline produced large behavioral changes without significant effects on raphe unit activity in either region. The authors suggest ascending dorsal raphe and NCS neurons may be involved in hallucinogenesis, whereas descending RPA neurons do not appear to be involved. |
Abstract
Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that there are a number of important dissociations between the effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the activity of serotonin-containing dorsal raphe neurons and behavior in freely moving cats. In the present study, we extended this analysis to serotonergic units in the nucleus centralis superior (NCS) and nucleus raphe pallidus (RPA). Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) produced a dose-dependent decrease in NCS unit activity at 10, 50 and 100 micrograms/kg (i.p.) and a dose-dependent increase in certain behaviors (e.g., limb flicking and abortive grooming) and the peak behavioral and unit changes were temporally correlated. By contrast, LSD had little effect on serotonin-containing RPA neurons. 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) also produced a dose-dependent decrease in NCS unit activity at 10, 50 and 250 micrograms/kg (i.m.) and dose-dependent behavioral changes. Similar to our LSD data, 5-MeODMT was found to have no overall significant effect on RPA unit activity, except at the highest dose level. Psilocin produced dose-dependent decreases in NCS unit activity at 25, 100 and 750 micrograms/kg (i.p.), whereas the behavioral changes were not dose-related. Psilocin also had relatively little effect on the activity of RPA neurons. The phenylethylamine hallucinogens, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (50, 250 and 1000 micrograms/kg i.p.) (DOM) and mescaline (5000 micrograms/kg i.p.), both produced large behavioral changes, but no overall significant effect on raphe unit activity in either the NCS or RPA. These data suggest that ascending dorsal raphe and NCS neurons may be involved in the process of hallucinogenesis, whereas descending RPA neurons do not appear to be involved in this process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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| 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine destroy serotonin terminals in rat brain: quantification of neurodegeneration by measurement of [3H]paroxetine-labeled serotonin uptake sites. Rat brain | 1987 | Animal experiment | |
| Comparison of the monoamine transporters from human and mouse in their sensitivities to psychostimulant drugs Human and mouse dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters expressed in cells | 2006 | In vitro laboratory study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Unmasking of a neonatal somatovesical reflex in adult cats by the serotonin autoreceptor agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Brain research. Developmental brain research June 1, 1990
- A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT. Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2022
- Occurrence and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing psilocybin alkaloids TemaNord May 19, 2009
- Effect of a single psilocybin treatment on Fos protein expression in male rat brain. Neuroscience February 16, 2024
- Acute toxicity of Psilocybe cubensis (Ear.) Sing., Strophariaceae, aqueous extract in mice Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia July 1, 2010
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