Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physiological disposition of 5-methoxytryptamine and the rope climbing performance of rats

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

Summary

5-Methoxytryptamine (5-MT) is taken up rapidly by rat tissues after IP injection (50 mg/kg) and the following peak levels (μg/g or ml of sample) were observed after 5 min: plasma, 5.3; liver, 126; skeletal muscle, 2.4; brain 0.43. Over 90% of the compound disappeared from the plasma and the tissues studied within 60 min. The compound impaired rope climbing performance of trained rats. Pretreatment of the animals with iproniazid enhanced the effect of 5-MT whereas its main (and probably only) metabolite, 5-methoxyindoleacetic acid, did not interfere with rope climbing at a dose of 75 mg/kg. 5-MT also produced marked cutaneous vasodilatation, analgesia and hindleg paralysis. All pharmacological effects lasted approximately 75 min. It is suggested that 5-MT is the pharmacological active agent and that behavioral changes observed after IP injection of the compound are mainly caused by the peripheral and little, if any, by a central action of this compound.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Axelrod, J., and H. Weissbach: Purification and properties of hydroxyindole-omethyltransferase. J. biol. Chem. 236, 211–213 (1961).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bertaccini, G., and T. Vitali: Synthesis and pharmacological activity of some 5-methoxyindole derivatives occurring in nature. II Farmacol. 22, 230–244 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodie, B. B., and S. Udenfriend: The estimation of basic organic compounds and a technique for the appraisal of specificity. J. biol. Chem. 158, 705–714 (1945).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulat, M., and Z. Supek: Passage of 5-hydroxytryptamine through the blood brain barrier, its metabolism in the brain and elimination of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid from the brain tissue. J. Neurochem. 15, 383–389 (1968).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, D. R., and R. Davis: Pharmacological studies upon neurones of the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 18, 217–246 (1962).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dukor, P., u. R. Schüppli: Konstitutions chemische Verbindungen für die Wirksamkeit von Oxytryptaminederivaten im Strahlenschutzversuch. Experientia (Basel) 17, 257–258 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Erspamer, V.: Enteramina e 5-metossitriptamina. Tossicita. Azione sulla diuresi, sulla pressione del sangue e su alcuni organi a muscolature liscia. Ric. Sci. 22, 694–702 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Peripheral physiological and pharmacological actions of indolealkylamines. In: Handbook of exp. pharmacol., vol. 19, pp. 245–359. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1966a.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Bioassay of indolealkylamines. In: Handbook of exp. pharmacol., vol. 19, pp. 113–131. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1966b.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, and A. Ottolenghi: Antidiuretic action of enteramine Experientia (Basel) 6, 428 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  • — —: Pharmacological studies on enteramine. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 93, 177 to 201 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzen, Fr., and H. Gross: Tryptamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, N,N-dimethyl-5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-methoxy-tryptamine in human blood and urine. Nature (Lond.) 206, 1052 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gessner, P. K., W. M. McIsaac, and I. H. Page: Pharmacological actions of some methoxyindolealkylamines. Nature (Lond.) 190, 179–180 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kveder, S., and W. M. McIsaac: The metabolism of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) and 5-methoxytryptamine. J. biol. Chem. 236, 3214–3220 (1961).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maickel, R. P., and F. P. Miller: Fluorescent products formed by reaction of indole derivatives and O-phthaldialdehyde. Analyt. Chem. 38, 1937–1938 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The fluorometric determination of indolealkylamines in brain and pineal gland. Advanc. pharmacol. 6, 71–77 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Marley, E.: Behavioral and electrophysiologioal effects of catecholamines. Pharmacol. Rev. 18, 753–768 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michaux, R.: Catatonic action of 5-methoxytryptamine. Life Sci. 1, 617–619 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, E., and M. T. Bush: Distribution, metabolism and excretion of bufotenine in the rat with preliminary studies of its O-methyl derivative. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 158, 340–352 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, F. M., and C. Wilpizeski: Simultaneous recordings of monkey electrocorticograms and electrocardiograms. Delaware med. J. 39, 105–108 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, W. H.: Physiological disposition and metabolism of 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine in the rat. Int. J. Neuropharmacol. 7, 373–381 (1968).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winter, C. A., and L. Flataker: Effect of antihistaminic drugs upon performance of trained rats. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 101, 156–162 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    W. H. Vogel

Authors
  1. W. H. Vogel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by grants GRS-1968-08 from the NIH “small” grants program at Jefferson Medical College and MH-15317 from the U.S. Public Health Service, National Institute of Mental Health.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vogel, W.H. Physiological disposition of 5-methoxytryptamine and the rope climbing performance of rats. Psychopharmacologia 15, 88–95 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407040

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00407040

Key-Words

Search

Navigation