Abuse liability profile of three substituted tryptamines

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2011 Jul;338(1):280-9. doi: 10.1124/jpet.111.179705. Epub 2011 Apr 7.

Abstract

The abuse liability profile of three synthetic hallucinogens, N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (DIPT), 5-N,N-diethyl-5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-DET), and 5-methoxy-α-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT), was tested in rats trained to discriminate hallucinogenic and psychostimulant compounds, including cocaine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), (-)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Because abused hallucinogens act at 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT(1A)) and 5-HT(2A) receptors, and abused psychostimulants act at monoamine transporters, binding and functional activities of DIPT, 5-MeO-DET, and 5-MeO-AMT at these sites were also tested. DIPT fully substituted in rats trained to discriminate DMT (ED(50) = 1.71 mg/kg) and DOM (ED(50) = 1.94 mg/kg), but produced only 68% LSD-appropriate responding. 5-MeO-DET fully substituted for DMT (ED(50) = 0.41 mg/kg) and produced 59% MDMA-appropriate responding. 5-MeO-AMT did not fully substitute for any of the training drugs, but produced 67% LSD-appropriate responding. None of the compounds produced substitution in rats trained to discriminate cocaine or methamphetamine. All three compounds showed activity at 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptors as well as blockade of reuptake by the serotonin transporter. In addition, 5-MeO-AMT produced low levels of serotonin release and low potency blockade of dopamine uptake. DIPT, 5-MeO-DET, and 5-MeO-AMT produced behavioral and receptor effects similar to those of abused hallucinogens, but were not similar to those of psychostimulants. DIPT and 5-MeO-DET may have abuse liability similar to known hallucinogens and may be hazardous because high doses produced activity and lethality.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Discrimination Learning / drug effects
  • Discrimination Learning / physiology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hallucinogens / chemistry
  • Hallucinogens / metabolism
  • Hallucinogens / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / metabolism
  • Serotonin / analogs & derivatives
  • Serotonin / chemistry
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Serotonin / pharmacology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / metabolism*
  • Tryptamines / chemistry
  • Tryptamines / metabolism*
  • Tryptamines / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Hallucinogens
  • Tryptamines
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
  • 5-methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine
  • N,N-diisopropyltryptamine
  • Serotonin