Monoamine oxidase and head-twitch response in mice. Mechanisms of alpha-methylated substrate derivatives

Neurotoxicology. 2004 Jan;25(1-2):223-32. doi: 10.1016/S0161-813X(03)00101-3.

Abstract

It is well known that head-twitch response (HTR) in mice represents hallucinations, since administration of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) produces hallucinations in humans, and the HTR in mice is induced by administration of LSD as a hallucinogen. The HTR is produced by excitation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A receptors. In this paper, we review the mechanisms of HTR induced by various drugs such as 5-HT precursor, 5-HT receptor agonist, 5-HT releaser, hallucinogenic compounds, benzodiazepins and cannabinoid. The response induced by HTR-inducers is significantly enhanced by combined treatment with a non-selective form of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor. Thus, the relationship between MAO activity and HTR caused by these drugs (especially, alpha-methylated analogous compounds which 5-fluoro-alpha-methyltryptamine, 6-fluoro-alpha-methyltryptamine and p-hydroxyamphetamine) is presented in detail.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Synergism
  • Hallucinations / chemically induced*
  • Hallucinations / enzymology
  • Head Movements / drug effects*
  • Head Movements / physiology
  • Humans
  • Monoamine Oxidase / metabolism*
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism*
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / chemistry
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / pharmacology
  • Tryptamines / chemistry
  • Tryptamines / pharmacology

Substances

  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Tryptamines
  • indopan
  • Monoamine Oxidase