Skip to main content
Log in

Serotonin receptor subtype mediation of the interoceptive discriminative stimuli induced by 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Psychopharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Male Wistar rats were trained to discriminate the interoceptive effects of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-OMe-DMT; 1.25 mg/kg, IP) from saline in a two-lever operant chamber. Following discrimination learning, the following drugs (with ED50 dose in mg/kg IP) dose-dependently generalized: lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, 0.04), 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT, 0.11), 6-methoxy-4-(dipropyl-amino)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydrobenz(c,d)indole hydrochloride (BAY R 1531, 0.15), 5-OMe-DMT itself (0.63), ipsapirone (TVX Q 7821, 2.7), and buspirone (3.8). The potencies of these drugs in generalization tests were best correlated with their binding affinities for the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor subtype (as measured by displacement of 3H-ipsapirone in the hippocampus). Drugs not, or only partially generalizing included quipazine, bufotenin, m-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), 5-methoxy-3(1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)-1H-indole succinate (RU 24969), citalopram, clomipramine, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-pyridine-5-carboxylate (BAY K 8644), the buspirone metabolite 1-pyrimidinyl-piperazine (1-PP), methysergide, metergoline, and metitepine. Of the last three compounds with antagonistic activity at 5-HT receptors, as well as ketanserin, pizotifen, and ritanserin, only metitepine and pindolol could fully block the 5-OMe-DMT stimulus. Pizotifen blocked the generalization of quipazine fully, that of 5-OMe-DMT only partially, and that of ipsapirone not at all. These data indicate that the 5-HT1A receptor subtype is strongly involved in the transduction of the interoceptive discriminative stimuli induced by 5-OMe-DMT, with 5-HT2 agonism also playing a possible role.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahlenius S, Larsson K, Svensson L, Hjorth S, Carlsson A, Lindberg P, Wikström H, Sanchez D, Arvidsson L-E, Hacksell U, Nilsson JLG (1981) Effects of a new type of 5-HT receptor agonist on male rat sexual behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 15:785–792

    Google Scholar 

  • Asarch KB, Ransom RW, Shih JC (1985) 5-HT-1a and 5-HT-1b selectively of two phenylpiperazine derivatives: evidence for 5-HT-1b heterogeneity. Life Sci 36:1265–1273

    Google Scholar 

  • Basse-Tomusk A, Rebec GV (1986) Ipsapirone depresses neuronal activity in the dorsal raphe nucleus and the hippocampal formation. Eur J Pharmacol 130:141–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Bendotti C, Samanin R (1986) 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) elicits eating in free-feeding rats by acting on central serotonin neurons. Eur J Pharmacol 121:147–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonanno G, Maura G, Raiteri M (1986) Pharmacological characterization of release-regulating serotonin autoreceptors in rat cerebellum. Eur J Pharmacol 126:317–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Brazell MP, Marsden CA, Nisbet AP, Routledge C (1985) The 5-HT1 receptor agonist RU-24969 decreases 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release and metabolism in the rat frontal cortex in vitro and in vivo. Br J Pharmacol 86:209–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Caccia S, Conti I, Vigano C, Garattini S (1986) 1-(2-pyrimidinyl)-piperazine as active metabolite of buspirone in man and rat. Pharmacology 33:46–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham KA, Appel JB (1986) Possible 5-hydroxytryptamine1 (5-HT1) receptor involvement in the stimulus properties of 1-(m-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP). J Pharmacol Exp Ther 237:369–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham KA, Callahan PM, Appel JB (1985) Similarities in the stimulus effects of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), buspirone and TVX Q 7821: implications for understanding the actions of novel anxiolytics? Soc Neurosci Abstr 11:45

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVivo M, Maayani S (1985) Inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by 5-HT receptor agonists. Eur J Pharmacol 119:231–234

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVivo M, Maayani S (1986) Characterization of the 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor-mediated inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in guinea pig and rat hippocampal membranes. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 238:248–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Dompert WU, Glaser T, Traber J (1985) 3H-TVX Q 7821: identification of 5-HT1 binding sites as target for a novel putative anxiolytic. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 328:467–470

    Google Scholar 

  • Dourish CT, Hutson PH, Curzon G (1985) Low doses of the putative serotonin agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) elicit feeding in the rat. Psychopharmacology 86:197–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel G, Göthert M, Hoyer D, Schlicker E, Hillenbrand K (1986) Identity of inhibitory preynaptic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) autoreceptors in the rat brain cortex with 5-HT1B binding sites. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 332:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Fozard JR, Kidd EJ, Neill J, Tricklebank M (1986) Further characterization of the discriminative stimulus induced by 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin in rats. Br J Pharmacol [Suppl] 88:371 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman RL, Barrett RJ, Sanders-Bush E (1984) Discriminative stimulus properties of quipazine: mediation by serotonin2 binding sites. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 228:628–635

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe K, Friedholm LO, Hamburger B, Ogren SO (1975) On the “in vivo” and “in vitro” actions of fenfluramine and its derivatives on central monoamine neurons, especially 5-hydroxytryptamine neurons and their relation to the anorectic activity of fenfluramine. Postgrad Med J [Suppl] 51:35–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Garattini S, Buczko W, Jori A, Samanin R (1975) On the mechanism of action of fenfluramine. Postgrad Med J [Suppl] 51:27–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser T, Traber J (1983) Buspirone: action on serotonin receptors in calf hippocampus. Eur J Pharmacol 88:137–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser T, Traber J (1985) Binding of the putative anxiolytic TVX Q 7821 to hippocampal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) recognition sites. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 329:211–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser T, Dompert WU, Schuurman T, Traber J (1984) 5-HT1 receptors as target for the putative anxiolytic TVX Q 7821. Soc Neurosci Abstr 10:259

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser T, Rath M, Traber J, Zilles K, Schleicher A (1985) Autoradiographic identification and topographical analyses of high affinity serotonin receptor subtypes as a target for the novel putative anxiolytic TVX Q 7821. Brain Res 358:129–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser T, Dompert WU, Schuurman T, Spencer DG, Traber J (1987) Differential pharmacology of the novel 5-HT1A receptor ligands 8-OH-DPAT, BAY R 1531 and ipsapirone. In: Dourish CT, Ahlenius S, Hudson P (eds) Brain serotonergic mechanisms: the pharmacological, biochemical and potential therapeutic actions of 8-OH-DPAT and other 5-HT1A agonists. Ellis Horwood, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Glennon RA (1986) Discriminative stimulus properties of the 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT). Pharmacol Biochem Behav 25:135–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Glennon RA, Rosecrans JA, Young R, Gaines J (1979) Hallucinogens as discriminative stimuli: generalization of DOM to a 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine stimulus. Life Sci 24:993–998

    Google Scholar 

  • Glennon RA, Young R, Rosecrans JA, Kallman MJ (1980) Hallucinogenic agents as discriminative stimuli: a correlation with serotonin receptor affinities. Pyschopharmacology 68:155–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Glennon RA, Young R, Jacyno JM, Slusher M, Rosecrans JA (1983a) DOM-stimulus generalization to LSD and other hallucinogenic indole alkylamines. Eur J Pharmacol 86:453–459

    Google Scholar 

  • Glennon RA, Young R, Rosecrans JA (1983b) Antagonism of the effects of the hallucinogen DOM and the purported 5-HT agonist quipazine by 5-HT2 antagonists. Eur J Pharmacol 91:189–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Glennon RA, Titeler M, McKenney JD (1984) Evidence for 5-HT2 involvement in the mechanism of action of hallucinogenic agents. Life Sci 35:2505–2511

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin GM, Green AR (1985) A behavioral and biochemical study in mice and rats of putative selective agonists and antagonists for 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptors. Br J Pharmacol 84:743–753

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin GM, De Souza RJ, Green AR (1986) The effects of a 5-HT1 receptor ligand ipsapirone (TVX Q 7821) on 5-HT synthesis and the behavioral effects of 5-HT agonists in mice and rats. Psychopharmacology 89:382–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Gozlan H, El Mestikawy S, Pichat L, Glowinsky J, Hamon M (1983) Identification of presynaptic serotonin autoreceptors using a new ligand: 3H-PAT. Nature 305:140–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Green AR, Guy AP, Gardner CR (1984) The behavioural effects of RU 24969, a suggested 5-HT1 receptor agonist in rodents and the effect on the behaviour of treatment with antidepressants. Neuropharmacology 23:655–661

    Google Scholar 

  • Gudelsky GA, Koenig JI, Meltzer HY (1986) Thermoregulatory responses to serotonin (5-HT) receptor stimulation in the rat: evidence for opposing roles of 5-HT2 and 5-HT1A receptors. Neuropharmacology 25:1307–1313

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamon M, Bourgoin S, Gozlan H, Hall MD, Goetz C, Artaud F, Horn AS (1984) Biochemical evidence for the 5-HT agonist properties of PAT [8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin] in the rat brain. Eur J Pharmacol 100:263–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamon M, Cossery J-M, Spampinato U, Gozlan H (1986) Are there selective ligands for 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor binding sites in brain? TIPS 7:336–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Hibert M, Middlemiss DN (1986) Stereoselective blockade at the 5-HT autoreceptor and inhibition of radioligand binding to central 5-HT recognition sites by the optical isomers of methiothepin. Neuropharmacology 25:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoyer D, Engel G, Kalkman HO (1985) Molecular pharmacology of 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 recognition sites in rat and pig brain membranes: radioligand binding studies with (3H)-5-HT, (3H)8-OH-DPAT, (-)(125I)iodocyanopindolol, (3H)mesulergine and (3H)ketanserin. Eur J Pharmacol 118:13–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoyer D, Pazos A, Probst A, Palacios JM (1986a) Serotonin receptors in the human brain. II. Characterization and autoradiographic localization of 5-HT1C and 5-HT2 recognition sites. Brain Res 376:97–107

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyer D, Srivatsa S, Pazos A, Engel G, Palacios JM (1986b) (125I) LSD labels 5-HT1C recognition sites in pig choroid plexus membranes. Comparison with (3H)mesulergine and (3H)5-HT binding. Neurosci Lett 69:269–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutson PH, Dourish CT, Curzon G (1986) Neurochemical and behavioral evidence for mediation of the hyperphagic action of 8-OH-DPAT by 5-HT cell body autoreceptors. Eur J Pharmacol 129:347–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Leysen JE, Niemegeers CJE, Van Nueten JM, Laduron PM (1982) (3H)Ketanserin (R 41 468), a selective 3H-ligand for serotonin2 receptor binding sites. Mol Pharmacol 21:301–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Leysen JE, Gommeren W, Van Gompel P, Wynants J, Janssen PFM, Laduron PM (1985) Receptor binding properties in vitro and in vivo of ritanserin: a very potent and long acting serotonin-S2 antagonist. Mol Pharmacol 27:600–611

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucki I, Nobler MS, Frazer A (1984) Differential actions of serotonin antagonists on two behavioral models of serotonin receptor activation in the rat. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 228:133–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyon RA, Titeler M, Glennon RA (1986) Serotonin receptor selectivity of serotonergic drugs: the role of a 5-HT2 agonist (3H-DOB) radioligand. Soc Neurosci Abstr 12:311

    Google Scholar 

  • Markstein R, Hoyer D, Engel G (1986) 5-HT1A-receptors mediate stimulation of adenylate cyclase in rat hippocampus. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 333:335–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin KF, Marsden CA (1986) In vivo voltammetry in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat: effects of RU24969, methiothepin and ketanserin. Eur J Pharmacol 121:135–139

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenney JD, Glennon RA (1986) TFMPP may produce its stimulus effects via a 5-HT1B mechanism. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 24:43–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Middlemiss DN (1985) The putative 5-HT1 receptor agonist, RU24969, inhibits the efflux of 5-hydroxytryptamine from rat frontal cortex slices by stimulation of the 5-HT autoreceptor. J Pharm Pharmacol 37:434–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Middlemiss DN, Spedding M (1985) A functional correlate for the dihydropyridine binding site in rat brain. Nature 314:94–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Morali G, Larsson K (1984) Differential effects of a new serotoninomimetic drug, 8-OH-DPAT, on copulatory behaviour and pelvic thrusting pattern in the male rat. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 20:185–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortmann R (1984) Then 5-HT syndrome in rats as tool for the screening of psychoactive drugs. Drug Dev Res 4:593–606

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedigo NW, Yamamura HI, Nelson DL (1981) Discrimination of multiple 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine binding sites in rat brain by neuroleptics. J Neurochem 36:220–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Peroutka SJ (1985) Selective labelling of 5-HT1a and 5-HT1b binding sites in bovine brain. Brain Res 344:167–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Peroutka SJ (1986) Pharmacological differentiation and characterization of 5-HT1a, 5-HT1b, and 5-HT1c binding sites in rat frontal cortex. J Neurochem 47:529–540

    Google Scholar 

  • Peroutka SJ, Snyder SH (1981) Two distinct serotonin receptors: regional variations in receptor binding in mammalian brain. Brain Res 208:339–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Raiteri M, Maura G, Bonanno G, Pittaluga A (1986) Differential pharmacology and function of two 5-HT1 receptors modulating transmitter release in rat cerebellum. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 237:644–648

    Google Scholar 

  • Sills MA, Wolfe BB, Frazer A (1984) Determination of selective and nonselective compounds for the 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor subtypes in rat frontal cortex. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 231:480–487

    Google Scholar 

  • Sills MA, Lucki I, Frazer A (1985) Development of selective tolerance to the serotonin behavioral syndrome and suppression of locomotor activity after repeated administration of either 5-MeODMT or mCPP. Life Sci 36:2463–2469

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith DF (1986) The stereoselectivity of serotonin uptake in brain tissue and blood platelets: the topography of the serotonin uptake area. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 10:37–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith LM, Peroutka SJ (1986) Differential effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine1A selective drugs on the 5-HT behavioral syndrome. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 24:1513–1519

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer DG Jr, Emmett-Oglesby (1985) Parallel processing strategies in the application of microcomputers to the behavioral laboratory. Behav Res Methods Instrum Comput 17:294–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer DG Jr, Traber J (1987) The interoceptive discriminative stimuli induced by the novel putative anxiolytic TVX Q 7821: behavioral evidence for the specific involvement of serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. Psychopharmacology 91:25–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer DG Jr, Glaser T, Schuurman T, Traber J (1984) Behavioral and neurochemical correlates of the 5-HT1 receptor. Soc Neurosci Abstr 10:1072

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer DG Jr, Glaser T, Traber J (1985) The relationship between the interoceptive stimuli produced by 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and the serotonin 5-HT1 receptor. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 330:R66

  • Spencer DG Jr, Glaser T, Traber J (1986) The role of the 5-HT1A receptor in the interoceptive discriminative stimuli generated by 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine. Soc Neurosci Abstr 12:574

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprouse JS, Aghajanian GK (1986) (-)-Propranolol blocks the inhibition of serotonergic dorsal raphe cell firing by 5-HT1A selective agonists. Eur J Pharmacol 128:295–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson L (1985) Effects of 8-OH-DPAT, lisuride and some ergot-related compounds on the acoustic startle response in the rat. Psychopharmacology 85:469–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Titeler M, Herrick K, Lyon RA, McKenney JD, Glennon RA (1985) (3H)DOB: a specific agonist radioligand for 5-HT2 serotonin receptors. Eur J Pharmacol 117:145–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Traber J, Davies MA, Dompert WU, Glaser T, Schuurman T, Seidel P-R (1984) Brain serotonin receptors as a target for the putative anxiolytic TVX Q 7821. Brain Res Bull 12:741–744

    Google Scholar 

  • Traber J, Glaser T, Spencer DG, Schuurman T, Zilles K, Schleicher A (1985) Behavioral pharmacology and autoradiographic brain distribution of a novel anxiolytic: TVX Q 7821. Proceedings of the IVth World Congress of Biological Psychiatry:80

  • Tricklebank MD, Forler C, Middlemiss DN, Fozard JR (1985) Subtypes of the 5-HT receptor mediating the behavioural responses to 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in the rat. Eur J Pharmacol 117:15–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Tricklebank MD, Middlemiss DN, Neill J (1986) Pharmacological analysis of the behavioral and thermoregulatory effects of the putative 5-HT1 receptor agonist, RU 24969, in the rat. Neuropharmacology 25:877–886

    Google Scholar 

  • Trulson ME, Trulson TJ (1986) Buspirone decreases the activity of serotonin-containing neurons in the dorsal raphe in freely-moving cats. Neuropharmacology 25:1263–1266

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Maelen CP, Matheson GK, Wilderman RC, Patterson LA (1986) Inhibition of serotonergic dorsal raphe neurons by systemic and iontophoretic administration of buspirone, a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug. Eur J Pharmacol 129:123–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Verge D, Daval G, Patey A, Gozlan H, El Mestikawy S, Hamon M (1985) Presynaptic 5-HT autoreceptors on serotonergic cell bodies and/or dendrites but not terminals are of the 5-HT1A subtype. Eur J Pharmacol 113:463–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Young R, Rosecrans JA, Glennon RA (1983) Behavioral effects of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and dose-dependent antagonism by BC-105. Psychopharmacology 80:156–160

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spencer, D.G., Glaser, T. & Traber, J. Serotonin receptor subtype mediation of the interoceptive discriminative stimuli induced by 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine. Psychopharmacology 93, 158–166 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179927

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179927

Key words

Navigation