Drug-induced discrimination: a description of the paradigm and a review of its specific application to the study of hallucinogenic agents

1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI): From an Obscure to Pivotal Member of the DOX Family of Serotonergic Psychedelic Agents - A Review

1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI, or DOX where X = -I) was first synthesized in 1973 in a structure-activity study to explore the effect of various aryl substituents on the then newly identified, and subsequently controlled, hallucinogenic agent 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM, or DOX where X = -CH3). Over time, DOI was found to be a serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonist using various peripheral 5-HT receptor tissue assays and later, following the identification of multiple families of central 5-HT receptors, an agonist at 5-HT2 serotonin receptors in rat and, then, human brain. Today, classical hallucinogens, currently referred to as serotonergic psychedelic agents, are receiving considerable attention for their potential therapeutic application in various neuropsychiatric disorders including treatment-resistant depression. Here, we review, for the first time, the historical and current developments that led to DOI becoming a unique, perhaps a landmark, agent in 5-HT2 receptor research.

Making Sense of Psychedelics in the CNS

For centuries, ancient lineages have consumed psychedelic compounds from natural sources. In the modern era, scientists have since harnessed the power of computational tools, cellular assays, and behavioral metrics to study how these compounds instigate changes on molecular, cellular, circuit-wide, and system levels. Here, we provide a brief history of psychedelics and their use in science, medicine, and culture. We then outline current techniques for studying psychedelics from a pharmacological perspective. Finally, we address known gaps in the field and potential avenues of further research to broaden our collective understanding of physiological changes induced by psychedelics, the limits of their therapeutic capabilities, and how researchers can improve and inform treatments that are rapidly becoming accessible worldwide.

Oxycodone: A Current Perspective on Its Pharmacology, Abuse, and Pharmacotherapeutic Developments

Oxycodone, a semisynthetic derivative of naturally occurring thebaine, an opioid alkaloid, has been available for more than 100 years. Although thebaine cannot be used therapeutically due to the occurrence of convulsions at higher doses, it has been converted to a number of other widely used compounds that include naloxone, naltrexone, buprenorphine, and oxycodone. Despite the early identification of oxycodone, it was not until the 1990s that clinical studies began to explore its analgesic efficacy. These studies were followed by the pursuit of several preclinical studies to examine the analgesic effects and abuse liability of oxycodone in laboratory animals and the subjective effects in human volunteers. For a number of years oxycodone was at the forefront of the opioid crisis, playing a significant role in contributing to opioid misuse and abuse, with suggestions that it led to transitioning to other opioids. Several concerns were expressed as early as the 1940s that oxycodone had significant abuse potential similar to heroin and morphine. Both animal and human abuse liability studies have confirmed, and in some cases amplified, these early warnings. Despite sharing a similar structure with morphine and pharmacological actions also mediated by the μ-opioid receptor, there are several differences in the pharmacology and neurobiology of oxycodone. The data that have emerged from the many efforts to analyze the pharmacological and molecular mechanism of oxycodone have generated considerable insight into its many actions, reviewed here, which, in turn, have provided new information on opioid receptor pharmacology. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Oxycodone, a μ-opioid receptor agonist, was synthesized in 1916 and introduced into clinical use in Germany in 1917. It has been studied extensively as a therapeutic analgesic for acute and chronic neuropathic pain as an alternative to morphine. Oxycodone emerged as a drug with widespread abuse. This article brings together an integrated, detailed review of the pharmacology of oxycodone, preclinical and clinical studies of pain and abuse, and recent advances to identify potential opioid analgesics without abuse liability.

Effects of Ketanserin, M100907 and Olanzapine on hallucinogenic like action induced by 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine

2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) is a kind of hallucinogen of phenylalkylamine. Psychedelic effects mainly include audiovisual synesthesia, complex imagery, disembodiment etc. that can impair control and cognition leading to adverse consequences such as suicide. By now, there are no specific drugs regarding the management of classic hallucinogen use clinically. We evaluated the effects of three 5-HT 2A receptor antagonists ketanseirn, M100907 and olanzapine on hallucination-like behavior in therapeutic and preventive administration with male C57BL/6J mice. Two models were used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of antagonists, one is head-twitch response (HTR) and the other is locomotion. Effects of ketanserin, M100907 and olanzapine on DOM-induced HTR were studied in preventive and therapeutic administration, respectively. In the preventive administration, the ID 50 values of ketanseirn, M100907 and olanzapine were 0.4 mg/kg, 0.005 mg/kg and 0.25 mg/kg. In the therapeutic administration, the ID 50 values of ketanseirn, M100907 and olanzapine were 0.04 mg/kg, 0.005 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg. Secondly, locomotor activity induced by DOM was performed to further evaluate the efficacy of three compounds. In locomotion, M100907(0.005 mg/kg) whenever in preventive or therapeutic administration, reduced the increase of movement distance induced by DOM. Although ketanserin (0.4 mg/kg) in the preventive administration also decreased the movement distance induced by DOM, it was alone administrated to influence the locomotor activity. Through HTR and locomotion, we compared the efficacy and latent side effects of ketanserin, M100907 and olanzapine against hallucinogenic like action induced by DOM. Our study provided additional experimental evidence on specific therapeutic drugs against hallucinogenic behavior induce by representative hallucinogen DOM.

Use of the head-twitch response to investigate the structure-activity relationships of 4-thio-substituted 2,5-dimethoxyphenylalkylamines

RATIONALE

4-Thio-substituted phenylalkylamines such as 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-2) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-n-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7) produce psychedelic effects in humans and have been distributed as recreational drugs.

OBJECTIVES

The present studies were conducted to examine the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of a series of 4-thio-substituted phenylalkylamines using the head twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT_2A receptor-mediated behavior induced by psychedelic drugs in mice. The HTR is commonly used as a behavioral proxy in rodents for human psychedelic effects and can be used to discriminate hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic 5-HT_2A agonists.

METHODS

HTR dose-response studies with twelve different 4-thio-substituted phenylalkylamines were conducted in male C57BL/6 J mice. To detect the HTR, head movement was recorded electronically using a magnetometer coil and then head twitches were identified in the recordings using a validated method based on artificial intelligence.

RESULTS

2C-T, the parent compound of this series, had relatively low potency in the HTR paradigm, but adding an α-methyl group increased potency fivefold. Potency was also increased when the 4-methylthio group was extended by one to three methylene units. Fluorination of the 4-position alkylthio chain, however, was detrimental for activity, as was the presence of a 4-allylthio substituent versus a propylthio group. 2C-T analogs containing a 4-benzylthio group showed little or no effect in the HTR paradigm, which is consistent with evidence that bulky 4-substituents can dampen agonist efficacy at the 5-HT_2A receptor. Binding and functional studies confirmed that the compounds have nanomolar affinity for 5-HT₂ receptor subtypes and act as partial agonists at 5-HT_2A.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, there were close parallels between the HTR data and the known SAR governing activity of phenylalkylamines at the 5-HT_2A receptor. These findings further support the classification of 2C-T compounds as psychedelic drugs.

Contrasting effects of DOI and lisuride on impulsive decision-making in delay discounting task

RATIONALE

The 5-HT2A receptor is the major target of classic hallucinogens. Both DOI (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine) and lisuride act at 5-HT2A receptors, and lisuride shares comparable affinity with DOI and acts as a partial agonist at 5-HT2A receptors. However, not like DOI, lisuride lacks hallucinogenic properties. Impulsive decision-making refers to the preference for an immediate small reinforcer (SR) over a delayed large reinforcer (LR).

OBJECTIVES

The current study aims to compare the effects of DOI and lisuride on impulsive decision-making and further to investigate the possible receptor mechanisms responsible for the actions of the two drugs.

METHODS

Impulsive decision-making was evaluated in male Sprague-Dawley rats by the percentage of choice for the LR in delay discounting task (DDT). Delay to the LR changed in an ascending order (0, 4, 8, 16, and 32 s) across one session.

RESULTS

DOI (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) increased impulsive decision-making, and the effects of DOI (1.0 mg/kg) were blocked by the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin (1.0 mg/kg) rather than the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SB-242084 (1.0 mg/kg). Contrarily, lisuride (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mg/kg) decreased impulsive decision-making. The effects of lisuride (0.3 mg/kg) were not antagonized by ketanserin (1.0 mg/kg), selective 5-HT1A antagonist WAY-100635 (1.0 mg/kg), or selective dopamine D4 receptor antagonist L-745870 (1.0 mg/kg) but were attenuated by the selective dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist tiapride (40 mg/kg).

CONCLUSIONS

DOI and lisuride have contrasting effects on impulsive decision-making via distinct receptors. DOI-induced increase of impulsivity is mediated by the 5-HT2A receptor, while lisuride-induced inhibition of impulsivity is regulated by the dopamine D2/D3 receptor.

Psychedelic drug abuse potential assessment research for new drug applications and Controlled Substances Act scheduling

New medicines containing classic hallucinogenic and entactogenic psychedelic substance are under development for various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Many of these, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) are Schedule I controlled substances of the United States Controlled Substances Act (US CSA), and similarly controlled globally. The implications of the CSA for research and medicines development, the path to approval of medicines, and their subsequent removal from Schedule I in the US are discussed. This entire process occurs within the framework of the CSA in the US and its counterparts internationally in accordance with international drug control treaties. Abuse potential related research in the US informs the eight factors of the CSA which provide the basis for rescheduling actions that must occur upon approval of a drug that contains a Schedule I substance. Abuse-related research also informs drug product labeling and the risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) will likely be required for approved medicines. Human abuse potential studies typically employed in CNS drug development may be problematic for substances with strong hallucinogenic effects such as psilocybin, and alternative strategies are discussed. Implications for research, medicinal development, and controlled substance scheduling are presented in the context of the US CSA and FDA requirements with implications for global regulation. We also discuss how abuse-related research can contribute to understanding mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects as well as the totality of the effects of the drugs on the brain, behavior, mood, and the constructs of spirituality and consciousness.

Discriminative stimulus effects of carfentanil in rats discriminating fentanyl: Differential antagonism by naltrexone

BACKGROUND

A significant number of deaths caused by opioids involve fentanyl and/or one of its very potent analogs (e.g., carfentanil). Some clinical reports suggest larger doses of opioid receptor antagonists may be required to reverse the effects of carfentanil compared with other opioid receptor agonists, although this has not been examined extensively in vivo. The current study compared the discriminative stimulus effects of fentanyl, carfentanil, and heroin, and their antagonism by naltrexone.

METHODS

Eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate 10.0 μg/kg fentanyl from saline while responding under a fixed-ratio 10 schedule of food presentation. Dose-effect curves were determined for the opioid receptor agonists fentanyl (1.0-32.0 μg/kg), carfentanil (0.1-3.2 μg/kg), and heroin (10.0-320.0 μg/kg), then redetermined following a 15-minute pretreatment with 0.1 mg/kg naltrexone.

RESULTS

Fentanyl, carfentanil, and heroin dose-dependently increased responding on the fentanyl-associated lever and decreased the rate of lever pressing. Carfentanil and heroin were approximately 10-fold more and less potent, respectively, than fentanyl at eliciting >80 % responding on the fentanyl-associated lever. Pretreatment with 0.1 mg/kg naltrexone resulted in a significant rightward shift in the fentanyl and heroin but not carfentanil dose-effect curves.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in the effectiveness of naltrexone to attenuate the discriminative stimulus effects of carfentanil, compared with fentanyl and heroin, suggest that there may be differences in how carfentanil exerts its discriminative stimulus effects compared with other opioids. Further evaluation is needed of potential pharmacological and behavioral differences between carfentanil and other opioids, particularly in the context of toxicity.

Correlation between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response assay and their behavioral and subjective effects in other species

Serotonergic hallucinogens such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) induce head twitches in rodents via 5-HT_2A receptor activation. The goal of the present investigation was to determine whether a correlation exists between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response (HTR) paradigm and their reported potencies in other species, specifically rats and humans. Dose-response experiments were conducted with phenylalkylamine and tryptamine hallucinogens in C57BL/6J mice, enlarging the available pool of HTR potency data to 41 total compounds. For agents where human data are available (n = 36), a strong positive correlation (r = 0.9448) was found between HTR potencies in mice and reported hallucinogenic potencies in humans. HTR potencies were also found to be correlated with published drug discrimination ED₅₀ values for substitution in rats trained with either LSD (r = 0.9484, n = 16) or 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (r = 0.9564, n = 21). All three of these behavioral effects (HTR in mice, hallucinogen discriminative stimulus effects in rats, and psychedelic effects in humans) have been linked to 5-HT_2A receptor activation. We present evidence that hallucinogens induce these three effects with remarkably consistent potencies. In addition to having high construct validity, the HTR assay also appears to show significant predictive validity, confirming its translational relevance for predicting subjective potency of hallucinogens in humans. These findings support the use of the HTR paradigm as a preclinical model of hallucinogen psychopharmacology and in structure-activity relationship studies of hallucinogens. Future investigations with a larger number of test agents will evaluate whether the HTR assay can be used to predict the hallucinogenic potency of 5-HT_2A agonists in humans. "This article is part of the special issue entitled 'Serotonin Research: Crossing Scales and Boundaries'.

Comparison of the behavioral effects of mescaline analogs using the head twitch response in mice

BACKGROUND

In recent years, there has been increasing scientific interest in the effects and pharmacology of serotonergic hallucinogens. While a large amount of experimental work has been conducted to characterize the behavioral response to hallucinogens in rodents, there has been little systematic investigation of mescaline and its analogs. The hallucinogenic potency of mescaline is increased by α-methylation and by homologation of the 4-methoxy group but it not clear whether these structural modifications have similar effects on the activity of mescaline in rodent models.

METHODS

In the present study, the head twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT_2A receptor-mediated behavior induced by serotonergic hallucinogens, was used to assess the effects of mescaline and several analogs in C57BL/6J mice. HTR experiments were conducted with mescaline, escaline (4-ethoxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenylethylamine) and proscaline (3,5-dimethoxy-4-propoxyphenylethylamine), their α-methyl homologs TMA (3,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine), 3C-E (4-ethoxy-3,5-dimethoxyamphetamine) and 3C-P (3,5-dimethoxy-4-propoxyamphetamine), and the 2,4,5-substituted regioisomers TMA-2 (2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine), MEM (4-ethoxy-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine) and MPM (2,5-dimethoxy-4-propoxyamphetamine).

RESULTS

TMA induced the HTR and was twice as potent as mescaline. For both mescaline and TMA, replacing the 4-methoxy substituent with an ethoxy or propoxy group increased potency in the HTR assay. By contrast, although TMA-2 also induced the HTR with twice the potency of mescaline, potency was not altered by homologation of the 4-alkoxy group in TMA-2.

CONCLUSIONS

The potency relationships for these compounds in mice closely parallel the human hallucinogenic data. These findings are consistent with evidence that 2,4,5- and 3,4,5-substituted phenylalkylamine hallucinogens exhibit distinct structure-activity relationships. These results provide additional evidence that the HTR assay can be used to investigate the structure-activity relationships of serotonergic hallucinogens.

Hallucinogens in Drug Discrimination

Hallucinogens comprise a diverse collection of chemicals with multifarious receptor actions in the central nervous system. Preclinical drug screening methods have proven invaluable in the evaluation and characterization of hallucinogen psychopharmacology. Used in concert with structural chemistry and receptor pharmacology methods, preclinical drug discrimination research has informed our current understanding of hallucinogens and the neurochemical receptor mechanisms responsible for their interoceptive stimulus effects. This chapter summarizes the strengths and limitations of drug discrimination as an in vivo drug detection method and offers a brief review of historical and contemporary drug discrimination research with classical hallucinogens.

Characterization of the discriminative stimulus effects of lorcaserin in rats

Lorcaserin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating obesity and is under consideration for treating substance use disorders; it has agonist properties at serotonin (5-HT)2C receptors and might also have agonist properties at other 5-HT receptor subtypes. This study used drug discrimination to investigate the mechanism(s) of action of lorcaserin. Male Sprague-Dawley rats discriminated 0.56 mg/kg i.p. lorcaserin from saline while responding under a fixed-ratio 5 schedule for food. Lorcaserin (0.178-1.0 mg/kg) dose-dependently increased lorcaserin-lever responding. The 5-HT2C receptor agonist mCPP and the 5-HT2A receptor agonist DOM each occasioned greater than 90% lorcaserin-lever responding in seven of eight rats. The 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT occasioned greater than 90% lorcaserin-lever responding in four of seven rats. The 5-HT2C receptor selective antagonist SB 242084 attenuated lorcaserin-lever responding in all eight rats and the 5-HT2A receptor selective antagonist MDL 100907 attenuated lorcaserin-lever responding in six of seven rats. These results suggest that, in addition to agonist properties at 5-HT2C receptors, lorcaserin also has agonist properties at 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors. Because some drugs with 5-HT2A receptor agonist properties are abused, it is important to fully characterize the behavioral effects of lorcaserin while considering its potential for treating substance use disorders.

What can we learn about schizophrenia from studying the human model, drug-induced psychosis?

When drug-induced psychoses were first identified in the mid-20th century, schizophrenia was considered a discrete disease with a likely genetic cause. Consequently, drug-induced psychoses were not considered central to understanding schizophrenia as they were thought to be phenocopies rather than examples of the illness secondary to a particular known cause. However, now that we know that schizophrenia is a clinical syndrome with multiple component causes, then it is clear that the drug-induced psychoses have much to teach us. This article shows how the major neuropharmacological theories of schizophrenia have their origins in studies of the effects of drugs of abuse. Research into the effects of LSD initiated the serotonergic model; amphetamines the dopamine hypothesis, PCP and ketamine the glutamatergic hypothesis, while most recently the effects of cannabis have provoked interest in the role of endocannabinoids in schizophrenia. None of these models account for the complete picture of schizophrenia; rather the various drug models mimic different aspects of the illness. Determining the different molecular effects of those drugs whose pharmacological effects do and do not mimic the various aspects of schizophrenia has much to teach us concerning the pathogenesis of the illness.

Role of the 5-HT₂A receptor in the locomotor hyperactivity produced by phenylalkylamine hallucinogens in mice

The 5-HT₂A receptor mediates the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens and may play a role in the pathophysiology of certain psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Given these findings, there is a need for animal models to assess the behavioral effects of 5-HT₂A receptor activation. Our previous studies demonstrated that the phenylalkylamine hallucinogen and 5-HT₂A/₂C agonist 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) produces dose-dependent effects on locomotor activity in C57BL/6J mice, increasing activity at low to moderate doses and reducing activity at high doses. DOI did not increase locomotor activity in 5-HT₂A knockout mice, indicating the effect is a consequence of 5-HT₂A receptor activation. Here, we tested a series of phenylalkylamine hallucinogens in C57BL/6J mice using the Behavioral Pattern Monitor (BPM) to determine whether these compounds increase locomotor activity by activating the 5-HT₂A receptor. Low doses of mescaline, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine (DOET), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylamphetamine (DOPR), 2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA-2), and the conformationally restricted phenethylamine (4-bromo-3,6-dimethoxybenzocyclobuten-1-yl)methylamine (TCB-2) increased locomotor activity. By contrast, the non-hallucinogenic phenylalkylamine 2,5-dimethoxy-4-tert-butylamphetamine (DOTB) did not alter locomotor activity at any dose tested (0.1-10 mg/kg i.p.). The selective 5-HT₂A antagonist M100907 blocked the locomotor hyperactivity induced by mescaline and TCB-2. Similarly, mescaline and TCB-2 did not increase locomotor activity in 5-HT₂A knockout mice. These results confirm that phenylalkylamine hallucinogens increase locomotor activity in mice and demonstrate that this effect is mediated by 5-HT₂A receptor activation. Thus, locomotor hyperactivity in mice can be used to assess phenylalkylamines for 5-HT₂A agonist activity and hallucinogen-like behavioral effects. These studies provide additional support for the link between 5-HT₂A activation and hallucinogenesis.

Multiple receptors contribute to the behavioral effects of indoleamine hallucinogens

Serotonergic hallucinogens produce profound changes in perception, mood, and cognition. These drugs include phenylalkylamines such as mescaline and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM), and indoleamines such as (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin. Despite their differences in chemical structure, the two classes of hallucinogens produce remarkably similar subjective effects in humans, and induce cross-tolerance. The phenylalkylamine hallucinogens are selective 5-HT(2) receptor agonists, whereas the indoleamines are relatively non-selective for serotonin (5-HT) receptors. There is extensive evidence, from both animal and human studies, that the characteristic effects of hallucinogens are mediated by interactions with the 5-HT(2A) receptor. Nevertheless, there is also evidence that interactions with other receptor sites contribute to the psychopharmacological and behavioral effects of the indoleamine hallucinogens. This article reviews the evidence demonstrating that the effects of indoleamine hallucinogens in a variety of animal behavioral paradigms are mediated by both 5-HT(2) and non-5-HT(2) receptors.

Drug-induced psychosis: how to avoid star gazing in schizophrenia research by looking at more obvious sources of light

The prevalent view today is that schizophrenia is a syndrome rather than a specific disease. Liability to schizophrenia is highly heritable. It appears that multiple genetic and environmental factors operate together to push individuals over a threshold into expressing the characteristic clinical picture. One environmental factor which has been curiously neglected is the evidence that certain drugs can induce schizophrenia-like psychosis. In the last 60 years, improved understanding of the relationship between drug abuse and psychosis has contributed substantially to our modern view of the disorder suggesting that liability to psychosis in general, and to schizophrenia in particular, is distributed trough the general population in a similar continuous way to liability to medical disorders such as hypertension and diabetes. In this review we examine the main hypotheses resulting from the link observed between the most common psychotomimetic drugs (lysergic acid diethylamide, amphetamines, cannabis, phencyclidine) and schizophrenia.

'Hybrid' benzofuran-benzopyran congeners as rigid analogs of hallucinogenic phenethylamines

Phenylalkylamines that possess conformationally rigidified furanyl moieties in place of alkoxy arene ring substituents have been shown previously to possess the highest affinities and agonist functional potencies at the serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor among this chemical class. Further, affinity declines when both furanyl rings are expanded to the larger dipyranyl ring system. The present paper reports the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a series of 'hybrid' benzofuranyl-benzopyranyl phenylalkylamines to probe further the sizes of the binding pockets within the serotonin 5-HT(2A) agonist binding site. Thus, 4(a-b), 5(a-b), and 6 were prepared as homologs of the parent compound, 8-bromo-1-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difuran-4-yl)-2-aminopropane 2, and their affinity, functional potency, and intrinsic activity were assessed using cells stably expressing the rat 5-HT(2A) receptor. The behavioral pharmacology of these new analogs was also evaluated in the two-lever drug discrimination paradigm. Although all of the hybrid isomers had similar, nanomolar range receptor affinities, those with the smaller furanyl ring at the arene 2-position (4a-b) displayed a 4- to 15-fold greater functional potency than those with the larger pyranyl ring at that position (5a-b). When the furan ring of the more potent agonist 4b was aromatized to give 6, a receptor affinity similar to the parent difuranyl compound 2 was attained, along with a functional potency equivalent to 2, 4a, and 4b. In drug discrimination experiments using rats trained to discriminate LSD from saline, 4b was more than two times more potent than 5b, with the latter having a potency similar to the classic hallucinogenic amphetamine 1 (DOB).

Discriminative stimulus effects of 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane in rhesus monkeys

Discriminative stimulus effects of 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM) and related drugs have been studied extensively in rodents, although the generality of those findings across species is not known. The goals of this study were to see whether monkeys could discriminate DOM and to characterize the DOM discriminative stimulus by studying a variety of drugs, including those with hallucinogenic activity in humans. Four rhesus monkeys discriminated between 0.32 mg/kg s.c. DOM and vehicle after an average of 116 (range = 85-166) sessions while responding under a fixed ratio 5 schedule of stimulus shock termination. Increasing doses of DOM occasioned increased responding on the drug lever with the training dose occasioning DOM-lever responding for up to 2 h. The serotonin (5-HT)(2A/2C) receptor antagonists ritanserin and ketanserin, the 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist (+)2,3-dimethoxyphenyl-1-[2-(4-piperidine)-methanol] (MDL100907), and its (-)stereoisomer MDL100009 [(-)2,3-dimethoxyphenyl-1-[2-(4-piperidine)-methanol], but not haloperidol, completely blocked the discriminative stimulus effects of DOM. Quipazine as well as several drugs with hallucinogenic activity in humans, including (+)lysergic acid diethylamide, (-)DOM, and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7), occasioned DOM-lever responding. The kappa-opioid receptor agonists U-50488 and salvinorin A (a hallucinogen) did not exert DOM-like effects and neither did ketamine, phencyclidine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, morphine, yohimbine, fenfluramine, 8-hydroxy-2-(dipropylamino)tetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT), or (+/-)-2-(N-phenethyl-N-1'-propyl)amino-5-hydroxytetralin hydrochloride (N-0434). These data confirm in nonhuman primates a prominent role for 5-HT(2A) receptors in the discriminative stimulus effects of some drugs with hallucinogenic activity in humans. The failure of another drug with hallucinogenic activity (salvinorin A) to substitute for DOM indicates that different classes of hallucinogens exert qualitatively different discriminative stimulus effects in nonhumans.

The behavioral pharmacology of hallucinogens

Until very recently, comparatively few scientists were studying hallucinogenic drugs. Nevertheless, selective antagonists are available for relevant serotonergic receptors, the majority of which have now been cloned, allowing for reasonably thorough pharmacological investigation. Animal models sensitive to the behavioral effects of the hallucinogens have been established and exploited. Sophisticated genetic techniques have enabled the development of mutant mice, which have proven useful in the study of hallucinogens. The capacity to study post-receptor signaling events has lead to the proposal of a plausible mechanism of action for these compounds. The tools currently available to study the hallucinogens are thus more plentiful and scientifically advanced than were those accessible to earlier researchers studying the opioids, benzodiazepines, cholinergics, or other centrally active compounds. The behavioral pharmacology of phenethylamine, tryptamine, and ergoline hallucinogens are described in this review, paying particular attention to important structure activity relationships which have emerged, receptors involved in their various actions, effects on conditioned and unconditioned behaviors, and in some cases, human psychopharmacology. As clinical interest in the therapeutic potential of these compounds is once again beginning to emerge, it is important to recognize the wealth of data derived from controlled preclinical studies on these compounds.

The 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist MD-354 (meta-chlorophenylguanidine) enhances the discriminative stimulus actions of (+)amphetamine in rats

The effect of the 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist MD-354 (meta-chlorophenylguanidine) was examined on the discriminative stimulus produced by (+)amphetamine. Using male Sprague-Dawley rats trained to discriminate 1.0 mg/kg (i.p.) of (+)amphetamine from saline vehicle (VI 15-s schedule of reinforcement) in a two-lever operant procedure for appetitive reward, tests of stimulus generalization (substitution) and antagonism showed that MD-354 neither substituted for, nor antagonized, the amphetamine stimulus at the doses evaluated. Administration of (+)amphetamine doses in combination with a fixed (i.e., 1.0 mg/kg) dose of MD-354 shifted the (+)amphetamine dose-response curve to the left such that, following 0.3 mg/kg of (+)amphetamine, stimulus generalization occurred. Furthermore, MD-354 doses of 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, but not doses of 0.01, 0.5, 1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg (i.p.), administered in combination with the ED(50) dose (0.33 mg/kg) of (+)amphetamine resulted in stimulus generalization (i.e., >80% drug-appropriate responding). It is concluded that even though MD-354 lacks amphetamine-like central stimulant actions of its own it can modulate the discriminative stimulus effects of (+)amphetamine in rats.

TDIQ (5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,3-dioxolo [4,5-g]isoquinoline): discovery, pharmacological effects, and therapeutic potential

Chemically, TDIQ (5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinoline) can be viewed as a conformationally restricted phenylalkylamine that is related in structure to amphetamine but does not stimulate (or depress) locomotor activity in rodents. In radioligand binding studies TDIQ displays selective affinity for alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor subsites (i.e., alpha(2A)-, alpha(2B)-, and alpha(2C)-adrenergic receptors), and behavioral data suggest that it might exert an agonist (or partial agonist) effect at alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors or interact at alpha(2)-adrenergic heteroreceptors. Drug discrimination studies in rats indicate that TDIQ: (1) serves as a discriminative stimulus, (2) may be useful in the treatment of symptoms associated with the abuse of cocaine, and (3) exhibits a low potential for abuse. In addition, TDIQ exhibits a dose-dependent and wide dissociation between doses that produce an anxiolytic-like effect or an inhibition of "snack" consumption in mice and doses that produce minimal, if any, effects in tests that measure a potential for disruption of coordinated movement or motor activity. Also, TDIQ displays negligible effects on the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) of mice. Taken together, the preclinical data suggest that TDIQ exhibits a favorable ratio of therapeutic-like effects (anxiolytic, therapeutic adjunct in the treatment of cocaine abuse, and appetite suppression) to side effect-like activities (behavioral impairment, drug abuse, or adverse cardiovascular effect). As such, TDIQ could: (1) be a forerunner for a new type of chemical entity in the treatment of certain forms of anxiety and/or obesity and (2) serve as a structural template in the discovery and development of additional agents that might be selective for alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors.

Reinforcement schedule effects in rats trained to discriminate 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or cocaine

RATIONALE

Relatively few studies have compared the discriminative stimulus effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cocaine, and findings from different laboratories are somewhat inconsistent. One possible reason for discrepant results may be the use of different reinforcement schedules during discrimination training.

OBJECTIVE

The present study compared fixed ratio (FR) 20 and variable interval (VI) 15-s reinforcement schedules to determine their influence on discrimination acquisition, response rates, frequency of reinforcements, and stimulus generalization in rats trained to discriminate cocaine or MDMA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate cocaine (10 mg/kg; n=16) or MDMA (1.5 mg/kg; n=16) from saline under either a FR 20 or a VI 15-s schedule of food reinforcement. Stimulus generalization tests were conducted with a range of doses of cocaine, MDMA, d-amphetamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide in all four training groups.

RESULTS

The FR 20 schedule facilitated more rapid discrimination acquisition compared to the VI 15-s schedule and established differential response rates and frequency of reinforcement under drug and vehicle conditions. However, reinforcement schedule had little influence on stimulus generalization between MDMA and cocaine. Cocaine produced partial substitution for MDMA in both training groups (FR 20, 51%; VI 15-s, 58%). Likewise, MDMA produced only partial substitution for cocaine in both training groups (FR 20, 40%; VI 15-s, 72%).

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings suggest that the number of sessions required to establish discriminative stimulus control varies with different reinforcement schedules. Nevertheless, training schedules alone do not appear to have significant effects on stimulus generalization between MDMA and cocaine.

Hallucinogen-like actions of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7) in mice and rats

RATIONALE

Few studies have examined the effects of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7) in vivo.

OBJECTIVES

2C-T-7 was tested in a drug-elicited head twitch assay in mice and in several drug discrimination assays in rats; 2C-T-7 was compared to the phenylisopropylamine hallucinogen R(-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2aminopropane (DOM) in both assays, with or without pretreatment with the selective 5-HT2A antagonist (+)-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-[2-(4-fluorophenylethyl)]-4-piperidine-methanol (M100907). Finally, the affinity of 2C-T-7 for three distinct 5-HT receptors was determined in rat brain.

METHODS

Drug-elicited head twitches were quantified for 10 min following administration of various doses of either 2C-T-7 or R(-)-DOM, with and without pretreatments of 0.01 mg/kg M100907. In rats trained to discriminate lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 2C-T-7 and R(-)-DOM were tested for generalization. In further studies, rats were trained to discriminate 2C-T-7 from saline, then challenged with 0.05 mg/kg M100907. In competition binding studies, the affinity of 2C-T-7 was assessed at 5-HT2A receptors, 5-HT1A receptors, and 5-HT2C receptors.

RESULTS

2C-T-7 and R(-)-DOM induced similar head twitch responses in the mouse that were antagonized by M100907. In the rat, 2C-T-7 produced an intermediate degree of generalization (75%) to the LSD cue and served as a discriminative stimulus; these interoceptive effects were attenuated by M100907. Finally, 2C-T-7 had nanomolar affinity for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors and lower affinity for 5-HT1A receptors.

CONCLUSIONS

2C-T-7 is effective in two rodent models of 5-HT2 agonist activity and has affinity at receptors relevant to hallucinogen effects. The effectiveness with which M100907 antagonizes the behavioral actions of 2C-T-7 strongly suggests that the 5-HT2A receptor is an important site of action for this compound.

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens (psychedelics) are psychoactive substances that powerfully alter perception, mood, and a host of cognitive processes. They are considered physiologically safe and do not produce dependence or addiction. Their origin predates written history, and they were employed by early cultures in a variety of sociocultural and ritual contexts. In the 1950s, after the virtually contemporaneous discovery of both serotonin (5-HT) and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), early brain research focused intensely on the possibility that LSD or other hallucinogens had a serotonergic basis of action and reinforced the idea that 5-HT was an important neurotransmitter in brain. These ideas were eventually proven, and today it is believed that hallucinogens stimulate 5-HT(2A) receptors, especially those expressed on neocortical pyramidal cells. Activation of 5-HT(2A) receptors also leads to increased cortical glutamate levels presumably by a presynaptic receptor-mediated release from thalamic afferents. These findings have led to comparisons of the effects of classical hallucinogens with certain aspects of acute psychosis and to a focus on thalamocortical interactions as key to understanding both the action of these substances and the neuroanatomical sites involved in altered states of consciousness (ASC). In vivo brain imaging in humans using [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose has shown that hallucinogens increase prefrontal cortical metabolism, and correlations have been developed between activity in specific brain areas and psychological elements of the ASC produced by hallucinogens. The 5-HT(2A) receptor clearly plays an essential role in cognitive processing, including working memory, and ligands for this receptor may be extremely useful tools for future cognitive neuroscience research. In addition, it appears entirely possible that utility may still emerge for the use of hallucinogens in treating alcoholism, substance abuse, and certain psychiatric disorders.

Characterization of the discriminative stimulus properties of centrally administered (-)-DOM and LSD

Despite the plausible assumption that the effects of hallucinogens predominantly arise in the central nervous system, most studies of these drugs in intact subjects have been conducted following systemic administration. The objective of the present investigation was to characterize the stimulus effects of (-)2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine ((-)-DOM) following intracerebroventricular administration. Chronic indwelling cannulae were implanted into the lateral ventricle of male Fischer 344 rats trained to discriminate systemically administered (-)-DOM or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) from saline. Time-course and dose-response relationships for (-)-DOM and LSD administered intracerebroventricularly were established. For both LSD and (-)-DOM, central administration did not change the pretreatment times required for the maximal stimulus effects to occur. However, the onset of the stimulus effect was more rapid following intracerebroventricular administration. Following pretreatment periods that maximize drug-appropriate responding, central administration of (-)-DOM and LSD was approximately 2.4- and 1.5-times more potent, respectively, than systemic administration. The results of this study are consistent with the assumption that the stimulus effects of (-)-DOM and LSD are centrally mediated.

Effect of 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane and its optical isomers in PMMA-trained rats

1-(3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (MDA) is a drug of abuse that is known to produce stimulus effects similar to those of the stimulant phenylalkylamine (+)amphetamine and the hallucinogenic phenylalkylamine 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM). Earlier, a working model was described to account for the stimulus effects produced by phenylalkylamines. Such agents can produce one or more of three distinct effects: an amphetamine effect, a DOM effect and a third effect that is typified by the agent N-methyl-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (PMMA). Because MDA is known to produce two of the three effects, in the present investigation, we sought to determine if racemic MDA or either of its optical isomers could produce a PMMA-like effect in animals. Administration of S(+)MDA, R(-)MDA and (+/-)MDA to rats trained to discriminate 1.25 mg/kg of PMMA from saline vehicle under a VI 15-s schedule of reinforcement resulted in substitution in each case. (+/-)MDA and S(+)MDA were nearly equipotent and several fold more potent than R(-)MDA. The results are not only consistent with the proposed model but also identify (+/-)MDA as the first phenylalkylamine shown to produce all three types of stimulus effects (i.e., amphetamine-like, DOM-like and PMMA-like) in rats.

Creation and first 20 years of the society for the stimulus properties of drugs (SSPD)

Clinical observations and novels in the 19th century recognized that memory of some events can be retrieved only under the influence of the same drug condition that was present during the event. This dissociative effect of drugs probably reflects the same drug effects that were later called the discriminative stimulus effects of drugs. The Society for Stimulus Properties of Drugs (SSPD) was founded in 1978 as a forum for communications and periodic meetings on this drug effect. During its early years many of its members were psychologists, but subsequent to that time the most frequent research application has been for the pharmacological purpose of identifying new drugs that have the same discriminative stimulus attributes as a prototype training drug. The majority of members have been in the United States, but several major international meetings have been in Europe. The methods used by the society's members involve both neuropharmacological and psychological processes, allowing them to make unique contributions to the study of both mind and brain.

3,4-Methylenedioxy analogues of amphetamine: defining the risks to humans

The 3,4-methylenedioxy analogues of amphetamine [MDMA ("Ecstasy", "Adam"), MDA ("Love") and MDE ("Eve")] are recreational drugs that produce feelings of euphoria and energy and a desire to socialize, which go far to explain their current popularity as "rave drugs". In addition to these positive effects, the drugs are relatively inexpensive to purchase and have the reputation of being safe compared to other recreational drugs. Yet there is mounting evidence that these drugs do not deserve this reputation of being safe. This review examines the relevant human and animal literature to delineate the possible risks MDMA, MDA and MDE engender with oral consumption in humans. Following a summary of the behavioral and cognitive effects of MDMA, MDA and MDE, risks will be discussed in terms of toxicity, psychopathology, neurotoxicity, abuse potential and the potential for drug-drug interactions associated with acute and chronic use.

A comparison of N,N-dimethyltryptamine, harmaline, and selected congeners in rats trained with LSD as a discriminative stimulus

1. A series of N-substituted tryptamines was compared with a series of beta-carbolines in rats trained to discriminate LSD (0.1 mg/kg) from saline. 2. Intermediate levels of substitution were elicited by MDMT (76.4%), DMT (77.9%), and DET (48.7%). 6-F-DET produced 41.3% LSD-appropriate responding at a dose of 6.0 mg/kg but only 4 of 8 subjects completed the test session thus precluding statistical analysis. Bufotenine (25.8%) also failed to substitute. Although none of the tryptamines substituted completely for LSD, the pattern of substitution is consonant with what is known of their activity in humans. MDMT, DMT, and DET are well established in the literature as hallucinogens but the same cannot be said for 6-F-DET and bufotenine. 3. Of the beta-carbolines tested, none substituted for LSD completely and only harmane elicited intermediate substitution (49.5%). No significant generalization of the LSD stimulus to 6-methoxyharmalan, harmaline, or THBC was observed. Thus, in contrast to the tryptamines, scant ability to substitute for LSD was observed in the beta-carbolines tested. 4. Taken together, the present data indicate that the representative tryptamines employed in the present study exhibit greater similarity to the LSD stimulus than do representative beta-carbolines. The receptor interactions responsible for these differences remain to be determined.

Dihydrobenzofuran analogues of hallucinogens. 3. Models of 4-substituted (2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)alkylamine derivatives with rigidified methoxy groups

Tetrahydrobenzodifuran functionalities were employed as conformationally restricted bioisosteres of the aromatic methoxy groups in prototypical hallucinogenic phenylalkylamines 1 and 2. Thus, a series of 8-substituted 1-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difuran-4-yl)-2-aminoal kanes (7a-e) were prepared and evaluated for activity in the two-lever drug discrimination paradigm in rats trained to discriminate saline from LSD tartrate (0.08 mg/kg) and for the ability to displace [3H]ketanserin from rat cortical homogenate 5-HT2A receptors and [3H]-8-OH-DPAT from rat hippocampal homogenate 5-HT1A receptors. In addition, 1-(8-bromo-2,3,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difuran-4-yl)-2-am inopropane (7b), which was found to be extremely potent in the rat in vivo assays, was evaluated for its ability to compete with [125I]DOI and [3H]ketanserin binding to cells expressing cloned human 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors. All of the dihydrofuranyl compounds having a hydrophobic substituent para to the alkylamine side chain had activities in both the in vitro and in vivo assays that equaled or surpassed the activity of the analogous conformationally flexible parent compounds. For example, 7b substituted for LSD in the drug discrimination assay with an ED50 of 61 nmol/kg and had Kj values in the nanomolar to subnanomolar range for the displacement of radioligand from rat and human 5-HT2 receptors, making it one of the most potent hallucinogen-like phenylalkylamine derivatives reported to date. The results suggest that the dihydrofuran rings in these new analogues effectively model the active binding conformations of the methoxy groups of the parent compounds 1 and 2. In addition, the results provide information about the topography and relative orientation of residues involved in agonist binding in the serotonin 5-HT2 receptors.

The role of the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in the stimulus effects of hallucinogenic drugs. I: Antagonist correlation analysis

Investigations conducted over the past 3 decades have demonstrated that serotonergic receptors, specifically the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C subtypes, play an important role in the behavioral effects of hallucinogenic compounds. The present study was designed to determine the respective significance of these two receptors in the stimulus effects of LSD and (-)DOM in the rat. Specifically, the interactions of a series of serotonergic antagonists (risperidone, pirenpirone, metergoline, ketanserin, loxapine, LY53857, pizotyline, spiperone, cyprohepatadine, mesulergine, promethazine, and thioridazine) with the LSD stimulus and the (-)DOM stimulus in LSD-trained subjects was defined. From these data, IC50 values were determined for the inhibition of the LSD-appropriate responding elicited by either 0.1 mg/kg LSD (15-min pretreatment time) or 0.4 mg/kg (-)DOM (75-min pretreatment). In addition, the affinities of these antagonists for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors were determined in radioligand competition studies, 5-HT2A affinity correlated significantly with IC50 values for the blockade of the LSD (r = +0.75, P < 0.05) and (-)DOM (r = +0.95, P < 0.001) stimuli in the LSD trained subjects. 5-HT2C affinity did not correlate significantly with either series of IC50 values. These data indicate that (1) the stimulus effects of LSD, and (2) the substitution of (-)DOM for the LSD stimulus are mediated by agonist activity at 5-HT2A receptors.

Role of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in the stimulus effects of hallucinogenic drugs. II: Reassessment of LSD false positives

In the context of animal studies of hallucinogens, an LSD-false positive is defined as a drug known to be devoid of hallucinogenic activity in humans but which nonetheless fully mimics LSD in animals. Quipazine, MK-212, lisuride, and yohimbine have all been reported to be LSD false positives. The present study was designed to determine whether these compounds also substitute for the stimulus effects of the more pharmacologically selective hallucinogen (-)DOM (0.56 mg/kg, 75-min pretreatment time). The LSD and (-)DOM stimuli fully generalized to quipazine (3.0 mg/kg) and lisuride (0.2 mg/kg), but only partially generalized to MK-212 (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) and yohimbine (2-20 mg/kg). In combination tests, pirenpirone (0.08 mg/kg), a compound with both D2 and 5-HT2A affinity, blocked the substitution of quipazine and lisuride for the (-)DOM stimulus. Ketanserin (2.5 mg/kg), an antagonist with greater than 1 order of magnitude higher affinity for 5-HT2A receptors than either 5-HT2C or D2 receptors, also fully blocked the substitution of these compounds for the (-)DOM stimulus, while the selective D2 antagonist thiothixene (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) failed to block the substitution of lisuride for the (-)DOM stimulus. These results suggest that quipazine and lisuride substitute for the stimulus properties of the phenylalkglamine hallucinogen (-)DOM via agonist activity at 5-HT2A receptors. In addition, these results suggest that 5-HT2A agonist activity may be required, but is not in itself sufficient, for indolamine and phenylalkglamine compounds to elicit hallucinations in humans. Finally, it is concluded that MK-212 and yohimbine are neither LSD nor (-)DOM false positives.

The time-dependent stimulus effects of R(-)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methamphetamine (DOM): implications for drug-induced stimulus control as a method for the study of hallucinogenic agents

The pharmacodynamic characteristics of the stimulus effects of the hallucinogens d-LSD and (-)DOM were investigated in the rat. The stimulus control induced by (-)DOM (0.56 mg/kg) was significantly less stable at the 15-min pretreatment time than at the 75-min pretreatment time. In addition, (-)DOM (0.8 mg/kg) produced a time-dependent substitution for the LSD stimulus in LSD trained subjects (0.1 mg/kg, 15-min pretreatment time). As pretreatment times were increased, the substitution of (-)DOM (0.8 mg/kg) for the LSD stimulus increased, culminating in a maximal level of 99.5% LSD-appropriate responding at the 75-min pre-treatment time. A dose-response relationship for the substitution of (-)DOM (75-min pretreatment time) for the LSD stimulus, indicated that 0.2 mg/kg (-)DOM was the minimum dose which elicited greater than 90% LSD-appropriate responding. LSD (0.32 mg/kg, 15-min pretreatment time) fully substituted for (-)DOM in the (-)DOM trained subjects (0.56 mg/kg, 75-min pretreatment time). These findings suggest that the pharmacodynamic parameters of d-LSD and (-)DOM-induced stimulus control differ. The time of onset for the stimulus effects of (-)DOM is markedly longer than that of LSD in the rat.

The role of the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in the stimulus effects of m-chlorophenylpiperazine

m-Chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), a major metabolite of the atypical antidepressant trazadone, has been observed to produce marked physiological and behavioral effects in both humans and animals. These effects have been attributed to the interaction of mCPP with serotonergic receptors. The present study was designed to characterize those interactions of mCPP with central serotonergic receptors which mediate mCPP-induced stimulus control. A series of serotonergic antagonists (mesulergine, pizotyline, ketanserin, spiperone, risperidone, ritanserin, metergoline, pirenpirone, and LY53857) was tested for the ability to block the mCPP stimulus. The affinity of these antagonists for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors was then correlated with maximal percent inhibition of the mCPP stimulus. Kd at the 5-HT2C receptor was inversely proportional (r = -0.75, P < 0.05), and Kd at the 5-HT2A receptor directly proportional (r = +0.67, P < 0.05) to the maximal percent inhibition of the mCPP stimulus. The 5-HT2C selectivity ratio [Kd(5-HT2A)/Kd(5-HT2C)] of the antagonists was directly proportional (r = +0.86, P < 0.01) to maximal percent inhibition of the mCPP stimulus. A multiple regressions analysis indicated that 81% of the variance in the ability of a given antagonist to block the mCPP stimulus could be predicted on the basis of its affinity for 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. It is concluded that the stimulus effects of mCPP are mediated predominantly by a combination of agonist activity at 5-HT2C receptors and antagonist activity at 5-HT2A receptors.

The discriminative stimulus properties of ethanol and acute ethanol withdrawal states in rats

Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained in a standard two-choice Drug 1-Drug 2 discrimination task utilizing 3.0 mg/kg chlordiazepoxide (CDP, an anxiolytic drug) and 20 mg/kg pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, an anxiogenic drug) as discriminative stimuli under a VR 5-15 schedule of food reinforcement. Saline tests conducted at specific time points after acute high doses of ethanol (3.0 and 4.0 g/kg) indicated a delayed rebound effect, evidenced by a shift to PTZ-appropriate responding. Insofar as such a shift in lever selection indexes a delayed anxiety-like state, this acute 'withdrawal' reaction can be said to induce an affective state similar to that seen with chronic ethanol withdrawal states. Ethanol generalization tests: (1) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent biphasic generalization to CDP, (2) failed to block the PTZ stimulus and (3) failed to block the time- and dose-dependent elicitation of an ethanol-rebound effect. These data suggest that ethanol's anxiolytic effects are tenuous.

Acute and subchronic effects of methylenedioxymethamphetamine [(+/-)MDMA] on locomotion and serotonin syndrome behavior in the rat

Specific behaviors comprising the serotonin syndrome (low body posture, forepaw treading, headweaving) and the autonomic signs of piloerection and salivation were determined and analyzed with locomotor activity in response to MDMA at three doses (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/kg). All behaviors were dose-responsive. Serotonin syndrome behaviors increased in both intensity and duration of response with increasing doses. In contrast, locomotion varied only in intensity. Subchronic injections, in the same group of animals, permitted an analysis of acute vs. subchronic effects on these same behaviors. Both the serotonin syndrome and locomotor behaviors were augmented on subsequent testing, indicating that, (+/-)MDMA, like amphetamine, is capable of producing behavioral sensitization.

Hallucinogenic drug interactions at human brain 5-HT2 receptors: implications for treating LSD-induced hallucinogenesis

It has been shown that the hallucinogenic potencies of LSD, the phenylisopropylamines, such as DOB (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine) and DOI (4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine), and the indolealkylamines, such as DMT (dimethyltryptamine) and 5-OMe-DMT (5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine), strongly correlate with their in vitro 5-HT2 receptor binding affinities in rat cortical homogenates. In order to ascertain if this correlation applies to human 5-HT2 receptors as well, we examined the affinities of 13 psychoactive compounds at 3H-ketanserin-labelled 5-HT2 receptors in human cortical samples. Both radioligand binding and autoradiographical procedures were used. As in rat brain, d-LSD was the most potent displacer of 3H-ketanserin specific binding with a Ki of 0.9 nM. The phenylisopropylamine DOI also displayed high affinity (Ki of 6 nM). Stereospecific interactions were found with DOB; (-) DOB had a Ki of 17 nM while (+) DOB had a Ki of 55 nM. The behaviorally active compound DOM (4-methyl-2,5-phenylisopropylamine) had an affinity of 162 nM while its behaviorally less active congener iso-DOM had an affinity of 6299 nM. The indolealkylamines 5-OMe-DMT and DMT competed with moderate affinities (207 and 462 nM, respectively). In general, Hill coefficients were significantly less than unity which is consistent with an agonist interaction with 5-HT2 receptors. MDMA, a substituted amphetamine analog was inactive with a Ki of greater than 10 microM. A strong correlation was found for the hallucinogen affinities and human hallucinogenic potencies (r = 0.97). Also, human and rat brain 5-HT2 receptor affinities were strongly correlated (r = 0.99). These results strongly support the hypothesis that the hallucinogenic effects of these drugs in humans are mediated in whole or in part via 5-HT2 receptors. Furthermore, these studies imply that treatment with 5-HT2 receptor antagonists may be effective in reversing the hallucinogenic effects caused by the ingestion of LSD and LSD-like drugs.

Norfenfluramine, the fenfluramine metabolite, provides stimulus control: evidence for serotonergic mediation

Nine male rats were trained to discriminate 1.4 mg/kg norfenfluramine (NF) from its vehicle using a two-lever, food-motivated, operant discrimination task. Once trained, the rats showed a dose-dependent decrease in responding on the NF-correct lever following decreased doses of NF (ED50 = 0.71 mg/kg). Administration of 2.0 mg/kg fenfluramine (FEN) produced 100% responding on the NF-correct lever and decreasing doses of FEN, likewise, produced a dose-dependent decrease in responding on the NF-correct lever (ED50 = 1.30 mg/kg). Time-course data indicated that NF has a fast onset and a peak effect at 20-60 min after administration. Analysis of the time-course data provided a half-life of approximately 8 hr. In contrast, FEN did not show the rapid onset that was observed with NF. However, NF had a similar peak effect and half-life. These results indicate a pharmacological similarity between NF and FEN. However, the difference in onset of action suggests a possible difference between the parent drug and its metabolite. The serotonergic agonists mCPP, DOI, 5-MeODMT and LSD generalized to 1.4 mg/kg NF, whereas neither TFMPP nor 8-OHDPAT generalized to NF. The dopaminergic agonist AMPH also did not generalize to NF. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Indolealkylamine analogs share 5-HT2 binding characteristics with phenylalkylamine hallucinogens

Twenty-one indolealkylamines, some of which are known to be psychoactive in man, were examined for their binding interactions with rat brain cortical 5-HT2 receptors labeled with the antagonist radioligand [3H]ketanserin in order to develop structure-activity relationships for binding at these sites. Features investigated included aromatic, alpha-methyl and terminal amine substituents. 4-Methoxy and 5-methoxy substitution impart a higher affinity than 6- or 7-methoxy substitution; a 7-hydroxyl group essentially abolishes affinity whereas a 7-methyl or 7-bromo group enhances affinity. alpha-Methylation has little effect on affinity and, in the one case examined, the S(+) isomer of alpha-methyltryptamine was essentially equipotent with its racemate and twice as potent as its R(-) enantiomer. Terminal amine methylation results in a small but progressive decrease in affinity in the order: primary amine greater than dimethylamine greater than diethylamine. Similarities were noted between these structural requirements for binding and those of the phenalkylamines. Selected compounds (5-methoxytryptamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 5-methoxy-N,N-diethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) were further examined by two-site analysis of displacement studies for [3H]ketanserin specific binding. Hill coefficients were significantly less than unity and computer-assisted analysis indicated that a two-site model better fit the data than a one-site model. In displacement studies using the putative agonist radioligand [3H]DOB to label 5-HT2 receptors affinities were 10-100-fold higher than those using [3H]ketanserin. These results are also consistent with earlier findings using psychoactive phenalkylamines in competition studies for radiolabelled 5-HT2 receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Radioligand binding evidence implicates the brain 5-HT2 receptor as a site of action for LSD and phenylisopropylamine hallucinogens

Alterations in brain serotonergic function have been implicated in the mechanism of action of LSD, mescaline, and other similarly acting hallucinogenic drugs of abuse such as STP (2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine; DOM). In order to test the hypothesis that the mechanism of action of LSD and phenylisopropylamine hallucinogens is through stimulation of a specific brain serotonin receptor sub-type, the affinities of these compounds for radiolabelled 5-HT2, 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1C receptors have been determined using recently developed in vitro radioligand binding methodologies. The 5-HT2 receptor was labelled with the agonist/hallucinogen radioligand 3H-DOB (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine). The 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1C receptors were labelled with 3H-OH-DPAT, 3H-5-HT, and 3H-mesulergine, respectively. In general, the phenylisopropylamines displayed 10-100 fold higher affinities for the 5-HT2 receptor than for the 5-HT1C receptor and 100-1000 fold higher affinities for the 5-HT2 receptor than for the 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B receptor. There was a strong correlation between hallucinogenic potencies and 5-HT2 receptor affinities of the phenylisopropylamines (r = 0.90); the correlation coefficients for the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT1C were 0.73, 0.85, and 0.78, respectively. Because there is no evidence that 5-HT1A-selective or 5-HT1B-selective agonists are hallucinogenic and because the phenylisopropylamines are potent hallucinogens, a 5-HT2 receptor interaction is implicated and supports our previous suggestions to this effect. A secondary role for 5-HT1C receptors cannot be discounted at this time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Site-selective serotonin agonists as discriminative stimuli

Various direct- and indirect-acting serotonin (5-HT) agonists serve as training drugs in tests of stimulus control of behavior; such agents include: 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and fenfluramine. However, with the recent discovery of multiple populations of central 5-HT binding sites, the concept of site-selective serotonergic agents needs to be addressed. Certain 4-substituted 1-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropanes such as DOM (4-methyl), DOB (4-bromo), and DOI (4-iodo) appear to be 5-HT2-selective agonists and serve as effective training drugs in rats. Stimulus generalization occurs among these agents regardless of which is used as the training drug, although stimulus generalization does not occur with 5-HT1A-selective agonists [e.g., 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH DPAT)] or with 5-HT1B-selective agonists [e.g., 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)piperazine (TFMPP)]. 8-OH DPAT and TFMPP also serve as training drugs; the 8-OH DPAT-stimulus generalizes to other 5-HT1A agonists, but not to 5-HT1B or 5-HT2 agonists, whereas the TFMPP-stimulus generalizes to other 5-HT1B agonists, but not to 5-HT1A or 5-HT2 agonists. Classical serotonin antagonists, most of which are rather selective for 5-HT2 sites, and 5-HT2-selective antagonists are able to block the stimulus effects of DOM, DOB, and DOI, but not those of 8-OH DPAT or TFMPP. The results of such studies reveal that, in rats, site-selective 5-HT agonists produce stimulus effects that are also selective; although generalization may occur with nonselective 5-HT agonists, animals trained to discriminate site-selective 5-HT agonists apparently do not recognize other 5-HT agonists that are selective for a different site. Animals trained to discriminate such agents from saline might be useful for the identification and/or investigation of novel site-selective agonists and antagonists (for example, the 8-OH DPAT-stimulus generalizes to members of a new class of anxiolytics that display high affinity for 5-HT1A binding sites), and might also aid in the overall understanding of central serotonergic mechanisms.

Chlorphentermine may produce dual stimulus effects: a preliminary investigation

1. Rats were trained to discriminate injections of either (+)-amphetamine (0.75 mg/kg) or (+/-)-fenfluramine (1.5 mg/kg) from saline in a two-lever drug discrimination task. 2. After stable discrimination performances were attained in each group, stimulus generalization studies were conducted with amphetamine, fenfluramine, and chlorphentermine. 3. Stimulus generalization (substitution) did not occur between amphetamine and fenfluramine when either drug was used as the training stimulus. 4. In contrast, both the amphetamine stimulus and the fenfluramine stimulus generalized completely to chlorphentermine. 5. Taken together, the results suggest that chlorphentermine may be capable of producing dual stimulus effects in animals.

Behavioral effects of several new anxiolytics and putative anxiolytics

The behavioral effects of several new anxiolytics and putative anxiolytics were evaluated in two tests sensitive for anxiolytic activity. In the first test, rats were trained to lever-respond for sweetened milk under a multiple variable-interval fixed-ratio (VI-FR) schedule of reinforcement. In the FR component a brief electric shock coincided with the presentation of reward (i.e. conflict procedure). Treatment of these rats with diazepam, tracazolate, CGS-9896, and the pyrimidinylpiperazine derivatives buspirone, gepirone and ipsapirone (TVX Q 7821) significantly increased responding that was suppressed by foot-shock. A common metabolite of the pyrimidinylpiperazines, l-PP, had no affect on punished responding. A second group of rats was trained to discriminate diazepam from saline using a two-lever operant choice procedure. Diazepam-stimulus generalization occurred to CGS-9896, CL 218,872, zopiclone and tracazolate, but not to buspirone, gepirone, ipsapirone or l-PP. It was concluded that while all of the new compounds examined appear to share an anxiolytic effect as demonstrated by their activity in the conflict procedure, the pyrimidinylpiperazine agents do not share discriminative stimulus properties which are common to drugs which act via the benzodiazepine receptor.

The effect of MDA and MDMA ("Ecstasy") isomers in combination with pirenpirone on operant responding in mice

The behaviorally disruptive effects of the optical isomers of 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-aminopropane) (MDA) and its N-methyl derivative (MDMA) were evaluated in 27 mice trained to bar-press for a liquid food reinforcement. In addition, a second study was conducted in which mice were pretreated with either saline or the 5-HT-2 antagonist, pirenpirone, prior to the administration of either MDMA or MDA using the same behavioral procedure. The results indicated that the behaviorally disruptive effects produced only by R(-)-MDA, but not those of S(+)-MDA, R(-)-MDA, nor of S(+)-MDMA, were significantly attenuated by pirenpirone. These findings support previous research findings which indicate that this isomer may be producing its behaviorally disruptive effects via an action on 5-HT-2 receptors.

Self-injection of d,1-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) in the baboon

MDMA (d,1-3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine HCl; "ecstasy") self-injection (0.1-3.2 mg/kg/injection) was examined in baboons under conditions in which baseline responding was maintained by intravenous injections of cocaine HCl (0.32 mg/kg/injection). Drug was available under a FR 160-response schedule of intravenous injection. Each drug injection was followed by a 3-h time out allowing a maximum of eight injections per day. MDMA or MDMA vehicle (saline) was substituted for cocaine for a period of 14 or more days followed by a return to the cocaine baseline. MDMA (0.32-3.2 mg/kg/inj) maintained more injections and higher responses rates than were maintained by saline. The maximal number of injections maintained by MDMA and the maximal response rate maintained by MDMA were less than those maintained under baseline conditions with cocaine. The highest dose of MDMA tested maintained a cyclic pattern of self-injection, i.e., days of high numbers of injections intermixed with days of low numbers of injections. At the highest dose of MDMA tested, concurrent food maintained behavior was suppressed to an extent that food intake was also decreased.