Possible involvement of serotonin receptors in the facilitatory effect of a hallucinogenic phenethylamine on single facial motoneurons.
N J Penington, R J Reiffenstein
Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology October 1986 DOI: 10.1139/y86-220 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Electrophysiological study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Facial motoneurons in anaesthetized rats |
| Interventions | dopamine serotonin noradrenaline methysergide ketanserin chlorpromazine glutamate |
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Key points | DOM excited facial motoneurons in anaesthetized rats, and this excitation was antagonized by methysergide but not by chlorpromazine at doses lacking local anaesthetic effect. The authors suggest DOM acts as an agonist at at least one type of central serotonin receptor, which may be a ketanserin (5-HT2) binding site. |
Abstract
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM, "STP") is a potent hallucinogen, proposed to be a serotonin receptor agonist. Its effects have not previously been tested upon central neurons where serotonin is excitatory and serotonin antagonists are effective. Extracellular single unit recordings were obtained from facial motoneurons in anaesthetized rats, and drugs were applied from five-barrelled micropipettes by iontophoresis. Facial motoneurons were commonly silent. During subthreshold application of glutamate, firing could be induced by dopamine and DOM. As reported by others, serotonin and noradrenaline also excited facial motoneurons under these conditions. Methysergide antagonized responses to serotonin and DOM but not those to noradrenaline; methysergide could not usually discriminate between responses to serotonin and dopamine. Ketanserin reversibly antagonized (but could not discriminate between) responses to serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline. Chlorpromazine antagonized responses to dopamine at doses that did not alter serotonin-induced excitation, and responses to DOM were not reduced by doses of chlorpromazine, that had no local anaesthetic effect on action potentials elicited by DOM and serotonin. These results suggest that DOM is an agonist on at least one type of central serotonin receptor. This receptor may also be a ketanserin (5-HT2) binding site.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on serotonin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Mice | 2021 | Observational cohort | |
| Neurotoxicity of the psychedelic amphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Rats (implied by typical neurochemical study context) | 1987 | Experimental study | |
| Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through the activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors In vitro and in vivo (rodent) models | 2023 | Experimental study | |
| 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 2
- Pharmacodynamic effects of serotonin (5-HT) receptor ligands in pigs: stimulation of 5-HT2 receptors induces malignant hyperthermia. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology June 1, 1990
- Actions of methoxylated amphetamine hallucinogens on serotonergic neurons of the brain. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry August 1996