Rats were trained in a T-shaped maze to discriminate the effects produced by i.p. injections of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the no-drug state (state-dependency, StD). Several doses of both Δ^8-THC (range: 0.75–5.0 mg/kg) and Δ^9-THC (range: 0.75–10.0 mg/kg) were used in order to compare the number of sessions required by the animals until reaching criterion performance. An additional group...
A homologous series of 4-alkyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamines (alkyl = H through n-C5H11 and t-C4H9) was synthesized and compared with mescaline as serotonin agonists in a sheep umbilical preparation. The three-carbon homolog 6d was found to be the most potent of the straight-chain series in accordance with its observed psychotomimetic effectiveness in man.
Normal mental functions can be disrupted by many kinds of drugs. Hallucinogens are of special interest because of their ability to impair higher centers without producing substantial effect on other functions of the central nervous system. While the mechanism of action of hallucinogens has not been clarified, the striking structural resemblance between certain of these agents and several...
Abstract— In rats treated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, (tranylcypromine), L‐ tryptophan produces a stereotyped syndrome of hyperactivity and hyperpyrexia due to an increased rate of brain serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine) synthesis. Pretreatment of rats with intraperitoneal injections of cycloheximide, acetoxycycloheximide, emetine and dehydroemetine and of mice with puromycin inhibited...
Over two dozen Indian medicinal plants belonging to the families Leguminosae, Gramineae, and Malpighiaceae have been screened for potential psychodelic substances. The evaluation of only the indole bearing plants is reported here. Localization of about forty indole alkaloids, representing four broad structural types, viz., indole–3–alkylamines, carboxylated tryptamines, β–carbolines, and...
The effects of mescaline upon single cortical neurones were studied, using the microiontophoretic technique. Mescaline elicited excitatory and depressant responses similar to those evoked by noradrenaline (NA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HI). The responses to NA and mescaline were usually in the same direction, the neurone being either excited by both drugs or depressed by both drugs. The...
Four indole–3–alkylamines, viz., N,N–dimethyltryptamine, its N b –oxide, bufo–tenine, and 5–methoxy–N,N–dimethyltryptamine along with two uncharacterized 5–oxy–indole–3–alkylamines and a β–carboline were isolated from the various parts, except the trichomes of pods, of Mucuna pruriens DC. The trichomes of pods afforded only serotonin. Besides these, choline was found in all parts of the plant....
Abstract The effects of two lysergic acid derivatives, 2-bromlysergic acid diethylamide ‘BOL 148’ and 1-methyl-lysergic acid butanolamide ‘UML 491’ on the antidiuresis induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine ‘5-HT’ has been studied in rats given a dose of 1 mg./kg. 5-HT subcutaneously. BOL 148, 5 mg./kg., and UML 491, 2·5 mg./kg., counteracted the induced antidiuresis. By contrast, the antidiuretic...
TWO DECADES AGO Hofmann ' accidentally discovered the hallucinogenic activity of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25). Its ability to induce a model psychosis makes it an excellent laboratory device for the study of psychotic-like phenomena. LSD-25 has also been employed as an adjunct to psychotherapy because recall of repressed memories is enhanced and ego defensiveness to conflict laden...
There are, in the main, two principal methods of biological research into the problem of causation of schizophrenia. In the first, or direct method, studies are made of the body fluids and of the metabolism of schizophrenics in the hope of turning up some toxic factor or error of metabolism. Such studies are currently under way in a number of centres and, although many claims as to positive...