Interactions between Psychotropic Drugs and Membranes.
Abstract
The objectives of this investigation were directed toward understanding both the biophysical and biochemical events which may occur at the neuronal level when selected drugs of abuse interact with this tissue. From the beginning of this study in 1973 several interesting and important observations with respect to various properties of the neuron have been forthcoming. For example, it has been shown that serotonin (5-HT), 1) has multiple binding sites on the synaptosomal membrane and 2) that 5-HT binding to mature rat brain preparations stimulates cyclic nucleotide production. The binding of serotonin to its high affinity synaptosomal binding sites could not be displaced by physiological concentrations of LSD. However, the binding of LSD to this tissue could be blocked both in vivo and invitro by non-psychoactive structural analogues of this hallucinogen. New analytical techniques developed in this laboratory have allowed the detection of an endogenous hallucinogen, N, N-dimethyltryptamine, and its metabolites in mammalian brain. The finding of this compound has important implications in at least three areas of neurochemistry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 10, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA124709
Entities
People
- Samuel T. Christian
Organizations
- University of Alabama