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Structure-activity relationship studies on mescaline: II. Tolerance and Cross-tolerance between mescaline and its analogues in the rat

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Summary

Using the CAR shuttle box technique, with male hooded rats as subjects, the development of tolerance to mescaline, 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl-ethylamine (DMPE) and N∶N-dimethylmescaline (DMM) and possible cross-tolerance between these drugs was studied. It was found that seven successive daily doses of mescaline induced tolerance to its “inhibitory” effect, but that the “excitatory” effect was increased. Tolerance developed to the predominantly “inhibitory” effect of DMPE, and to the “excitatory” effect of DMM.

Partial cross-tolerance existed between DMPE and mescaline, and when the procedure was reversed, between mescaline and DMPE. Cross-tolerance was shown in the same manner between DMM and mescaline, and mescaline and DMM.

The problems of quantification and interpretation of these results is discussed. It was concluded, on the basis of subsidiary experiments, that the “inhibitory” effect of mescaline was probably not caused by ataxia or by a peripheral effect.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univ.-Dept. of Psychiatry, Morningside Park, Edinburgh 10, Scotland

    J. R. Smythies

  2. Psychology Laboratory University College of North Wales, Bangor, Wales, Great Britain

    E. A. Sykes

Authors
  1. J. R. Smythies
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  2. E. A. Sykes
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  3. C. P. Lord
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Smythies, J.R., Sykes, E.A. & Lord, C.P. Structure-activity relationship studies on mescaline: II. Tolerance and Cross-tolerance between mescaline and its analogues in the rat. Psychopharmacologia 9, 434–446 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406453

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406453

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