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Comparative Effects of Stereoisomers of Hallucinogenic Amphetamines

Nature New Biology volume 242, pages 185–186 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

Snyder1 has suggested that psychotomimetic potency may depend on how closely a molecule approximates the structure of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). This hypothesis indicates that a common receptor mechanism may be invoked to explain the unique properties of the hallucinogens. There are various types of evidence which support such a theory. For example, the D ring of LSD, namely 1-methyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-3-(N,N-diethylcarboxamide) (THPC) was tested by Smythies et al.2 and was found to antagonize the behavioural effects of LSD in the rat and increase the effects of mescaline. As mescaline would approximate the A and B rings of LSD then the combination of mescaline plus THPC would tend to mimic the action of LSD. THPC alone had no behavioural effects. Additionally a similarity of action across the hallucinogenic drugs is suggested by evidence of cross-tolerance3. Indeed, LSD and mescaline show cross-tolerance to at least some of their effects both in man4 and in the rat5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences Program, University of Alabama Medical Center, 1919 Seventh Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama, 35233

    F. BENINGTON, R. D. MORIN, J. BEATON, J. R. SMYTHIES & R. J. BRADLEY

Authors
  1. F. BENINGTON
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  2. R. D. MORIN
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  3. J. BEATON
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  4. J. R. SMYTHIES
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  5. R. J. BRADLEY
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BENINGTON, F., MORIN, R., BEATON, J. et al. Comparative Effects of Stereoisomers of Hallucinogenic Amphetamines. Nature New Biology 242, 185–186 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio242185a0

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