Return of the lysergamides. Part IV: Analytical and pharmacological characterization of lysergic acid morpholide (LSM-775)

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is perhaps one of the best-known psychoactive substances and many structural modifications of this prototypical lysergamide have been investigated. Several lysergamides were recently encountered as 'research chemicals' or new psychoactive substances (NPS). Although lysergic acid morpholide (LSM-775) appeared on the NPS market in 2013, there is disagreement in the literature regarding the potency and psychoactive properties of LSM-775 in humans. The present investigation attempts to address the gap of information that exists regarding the analytical profile and pharmacological effects of LSM-775. A powdered sample of LSM-775 was characterized by X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), high mass accuracy electrospray MS/MS, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) diode array detection, HPLC quadrupole MS, and GC solid-state infrared analysis. Screening for receptor affinity and functional efficacy revealed that LSM-775 acts as a nonselective agonist at 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors. Head twitch studies were conducted in C57BL/6J mice to determine whether LSM-775 activates 5-HT2A receptors and produces hallucinogen-like effects in vivo. LSM-775 did not induce the head twitch response unless 5-HT1A receptors were blocked by pretreatment with the antagonist WAY-100,635 (1 mg/kg, subcutaneous). These findings suggest that 5-HT1A activation by LSM-775 masks its ability to induce the head twitch response, which is potentially consistent with reports in the literature indicating that LSM-775 is only capable of producing weak LSD-like effects in humans.

Semiquantitative determination of ergot alkaloids in seed, straw, and digesta samples using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Ergot alkaloids present in endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue cause fescue toxicosis and other toxic effects in livestock that consume infected plant tissue, leading to significant financial losses in livestock production each year. The predominant method currently in use for quantifying ergot alkaloid content in plant tissue is through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which quantifies the amount of ergovaline, one of many ergot alkaloids in E+ plant tissue. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method used in this study detects quantities of nonspecific ergot alkaloids and therefore accounts for greater amounts of the total ergot alkaloid content in E+ tissue than does HPLC. The ELISA can also be used to more expediently analyze a larger number of forage samples without sophisticated and costly analytical equipment and therefore could be more desirable in a diagnostic setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the between-day and within-run variability of the ELISA and to determine the binding efficiency of 6 ergot alkaloids to the 15F3.E5 antibody used in the competitive ELISA to ascertain its feasibility as a quick analysis tool for ergot alkaloids. Straw samples had an average coefficient of variation (CV) for concentration of 10.2% within runs and 18.4% between runs, and the seed samples had an average CV for concentration of 13.3% within runs and 24.5% between runs. The grass tissue-based lysergic acid standard curve calculated from the ELISA had an average r2 of 0.99, with a CV of 2.1%. Ergocryptine, ergocristine, ergocornine, and ergotamine tartrate did not bind strongly to the 15F3.E5 antibody because of the presence of large side groups on these molecules, which block their binding to the antibody, whereas ergonovine and ergonovine maleate were bound much more efficiently because of their structural similarity to lysergic acid. Clarified rumen fluid was tested as an additional matrix for use in the ergot alkaloid competitive ELISA to determine whether future livestock metabolism experiments on the postingestion fate of ergot alkaloids in ruminants could utilize this assay as a quick screening tool for the presence of nonspecific ergot alkaloids in rumen fluid. HPLC and ELISA procedures were compared for their ability in determining ergot alkaloid toxicity based on the repeatability of the procedures and on the specific compounds they measure. The ratio of ELISA concentration to HPLC concentration (ergovaline) varied from 2.00 to 2.81 in seed samples and from 0.62 to 8.66 in straw samples, showing no consistent pattern between the 2 methods. Based on the lack of data at present for the identity of the toxin causing endophyte toxicosis and the lack of agreement between the ergovaline HPLC and ELISA analyses for ergot alkaloids, each method is equally valid as an indicator of toxicityand is the best means for determining the quantity of the specific toxin(s) they measure.

Fragmentation patterns of selected ergot alkaloids by electrospray ionization tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry

Tall fescue toxicosis and other maladies in livestock result from the ingestion of vasoconstrictive ergot alkaloids produced by fungal endophytes associated symbiotically with the grass. In order to facilitate future analyses of grass extracts considered responsible for outbreak of related livestock diseases, we examined the electrospray ionization mass spectra of specific ergot alkaloids under conditions that permit protonation. Our purposes were both to record the spectra with interpretation of mechanisms of fragmentation and to derive commonalities that would allow the prediction of mass spectra of related compounds for which standards were not readily available. With [M + H](+) values in parentheses, water-insoluble lysergic acid peptide ergot derivatives ergovaline (m/z 534), ergotamine (m/z 582), ergocornine (m/z 562), ergocryptine (m/z 576) and ergocrystine (m/z 610) exhibited a consistent loss of water (-18 u) from the C-12' alpha-hydroxy functionality. Of this group, ergovaline and ergotamine generated an m/z 320 fragment deriving from cleavage of ring E amide and ether functions with retention of the peptide ring system methyl group. Ergocornine, ergocryptine and ergocrystine similarly formed an m/z 348 fragment with retention of isopropyl. These assignments were supported by the lack of similar fragments from the water-soluble ergot ergonovine, which lacks a peptide ring system. Clavine-type ergot alkaloids lysergic acid and lysergol lack any substituents beyond simple ones directly on the C-8 position and, similarly to ergonovine, lack significant fragments at m/z 268, 251 and 225 shared by the peptide ergot alkaloids.

Detection of Lysergic Acid in Ruminal Fluid, Urine, and in Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Ergot alkaloids present in endophyte-infected tall fescue induce fescue toxicosis in livestock consuming the plant. The lysergic acid (LA) ring structure is a common moiety among the ergot alkaloids. Little is known about the bioavailability of LA because of limitations in available analytical protocols. Thus, a high-performance liquid chromatography procedure was developed to analyze biological matrices for LA. The biological matrices of interest were tall fescue straw and seed, and ruminant feces, urine, and ruminal fluid. Lysergic acid was added to each matrix at a high (150 ng/ml) or low (30 ng/ml) level. Using the high-level addition, the greatest recovery of LA was obtained from ruminal fluid, feces, and urine ( P < 0.05), with an average 85.1% recovered. At the low level, a greater recovery of added LA was observed in the ruminal fluid, urine, and feces (82.1%; P < 0.05) than that in the other 2 matrices (62.6%). The limit of quantitation (LOQ) in ruminal fluid and urine was 5.5 and 18.4 ng/ml, respectively. Seed, straw, and feces had higher LOQ (24.2, 14.5, and 36.0 ng/g, respectively). Limit of detection (LOD) was 1.64, 10.80, 4.35, 5.52, and 7.26 ng/g for ruminal fluid, feces, urine, seed, and straw, respectively. To test the assay in vivo, samples of ruminal fluid and urine were collected from steers consuming a diet containing 400 ng of ergovaline/g and 30 ng of LA/g. All matrices sampled resulted in levels above the LOD and LOQ for the assay, indicating that this assay is sufficiently sensitive for use in assessing the bioavailability of LA.

[Lysergic acids. II. Isolation and separation of lysergic acids (author's transl)]

During studies on the isolation of both lysergic acids, D-and D-iso-, from hydrolytic mixtures of ergot alkaloids, it became necessary to find a simple chromatographic system for column isolation of lysergic acids. The column with controlled pore glass is highly effective for these purposes. The separation of both isomeric lysergic acids occurs on the column with silica gel. The assay and the composition of lysergic acid are estimated by thin-layer chromatography on precoated plates.

Application of sodium lauryl sulphate ion-pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography in the separation of some isomeric and other closely related basic compounds in pharmaceutical analysis

Ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography proved to be useful for the separation of basic compounds of similar structure. Using suitable ion-pairing reagent concentration, pH and ionic strength values, good separations can be achieved. An ion-pair chromatographic study of a benzodioxanyl derivative, an aminopyrimidine derivative and a lysergic acid derivative was performed. Each of these compounds may be contaminated by a structural isomer produced as a by-product during the synthesis. By choosing the optimum experimental conditions these isomers can be separated from each other and from other related compounds and can be quantified in various substances and pharmaceutical products.

Enzyme immunoassay of two nicergoline metabolites, 10 alpha-methoxy-9, 10-dihydrolysergol (MDL) and 1-methyl-10 alpha-methoxy-9, 10-dihydrolysergol (MMDL)

Specific and sensitive enzyme immunoassays for two nicergoline metabolites, 10 alpha-methoxy-9, 10-dihydrolysergol (MDL) and 1-methyl-10 alpha-methoxy-9, 10-dihydrolysergol (MMDL) have been developed. The hydroxyl group of hydroxymethyl at position 8 of either MDL or MMDL was carboxymethylated to introduce a carboxyl group for protein conjugation. Antibodies generated from O-carboxymethyl MDL or MMDL recognized the spacer arm between the hapten and the carrier protein and the molecular domain near the conjugation site as well. A heterologous bridge strategy was used to improve the affinity of the hapten-enzyme conjugate to the antibodies. The sensitivity of both assays was greatly increased by using such an approach. Both antibodies are specific for their own haptens. Little cross reactivity was observed with nicergoline and other metabolites. Determination of MDL and MMDL from both spiked plasma and urine showed nearly quantitative recovery. Detection of MDL and MMDL can be as sensitive as 10 pg/ml.