Abstract Despite its early promise as ‘the chemical key to schizophrenia’, and its manifest properties as a psychotomimetic, LSD failed to catch on as a drug model for human psychosis. The reasons for this and the longstanding preference, instead, for the amphetamine model are examined. It is argued that the rejection of LSD was not just a scientific decision, but was influenced by increasing...
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxin, has been shown to promote the release of serotonin (5-HT) and block its reuptake. The increased buildup of extracellular 5-HT should normally be degraded by monoamine oxidase (MAO). The effects of both enantiomers of MDMA were examined on MAO-A and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity in rat brain homogenates. Both...
NeuroscienceJuly 1994J L Yau, P A Kelly, J Sharkey et al.
Both glucocorticoids and serotonin have been implicated in the regulation of mood and neuroendocrine control. In this study we have examined the effects of the psychomotor stimulant, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine on corticosteroid and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype gene expression within the hippocampal formation using in situ hybridization histochemistry. Animals were injected...
Previous autoradiographic studies have shown that serotonin 5-HT2 receptors are homogeneously distributed in the human striatum. While these studies were done using antagonist radioligands such as [3H]ketanserin, we describe here a heterogeneous distribution of 5-HT2 binding sites in the human striatum, using [3H]LSD and [125I]DOI as ligands. Beside their agonist properties, these compounds...
5-Hydroxytryptamine2 (5-HT2) receptor antagonists have been shown to interfere with the stimulation of striatal dopamine synthesis and release produced by the amphetamine analogue 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). To localize the receptors responsible for the attenuation of MDMA-induced release, 5-HT2 receptor antagonists were infused via the microdialysis probe directly into the brains...
Cortical synaptosomes were prepared from pregnant dams (GD-17) and rat fetuses (ED-17), loaded with [3H]5-HT and assayed to evaluate release mediated by cocaine (COC), fenfluramine (FEN) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). COC and FEN elicited a high-affinity (10(-9) M) release response in fetal tissue which was not apparent in the dam. MDMA-induced release was similar in magnitude in...
Background: To begin applying basic neuropharmacological hypotheses of hallucinogenic drug actions to humans, we generated dose-response data for intravenously administered dimethyltryptamine fumarate's (DMT) neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, autonomic, and subjective effects in a group of experienced hallucinogen users. Methods: Dimethyltryptamine, an endogenous mammalian hallucinogen and drug...
[3H]TCP, an analog of the dissociative anesthetic phencyclidine (PCP), binds with high affinity to two sites in guinea pig brain membranes, one that is MK-801 sensitive and one that is not. The MK-801-sensitive site (PCP site 1) is associated with NMDA receptors, whereas the MK-801-insensitive site (PCP site 2) may be associated with biogenic amine transporters (BAT). Although several "BAT...
AbstractPrevious work shows that benzodiazepines potentiate head‐twitches induced by 5‐HT agonists and that this action is not mediated via the GABA receptor complex. In the present study the involvement of adenosinergic mechanisms in this effect has been examined, as in addition to their actions at the GABA receptor, benzodiazepines also inhibit adenosine uptake. The adenosine antagonists...
Ibogaine is an alkaloid employed for its hallucinatory properties in West Central Africa which has been the subject of alleged efficacy as an aid in the interruption and treatment of chemical dependency. The major sources of the Schedule I agent are: Sigma Chemical Co., the National Institute on Drug Abuse and as NDA International Inc.'s Endabuse. The intent of the present study was to, for the...