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Mahler DJ, Humoller FL. 
“Effect of lysergic acid diethylamide and bufotenine on performance of trained rats”. 
Proc. Soc. exper. Biol.. 1959;102:697-701.
Abstract
To evaluate alterations in mental activity of rats after administration of psychotomimetic drugs, the delay in climbing a 5 foot vertical pole was measured. The rats were given solutions of LSD or bufotenine i.p. In another experiment, the effect of both psychogenic drugs was investigated after pretreatment with reserpine, 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP) and iproniazid. . LSD and bufotenine prolonged the climbing time of trained rats. However, the effect of LSD wore off in about 20 minutes while that of bufotenine lasted as long as 90-120 minutes. LSD was effective in smaller doses (0.3-0.7 mg/kg) than bufotenine (9.0-27.0 mg/kg). . After several injections of LSD or bufotenine rats became refractory to the same drug; a similar cross- tolerance was observed to the other drug. . Reserpine potentiated the effect of LSD and also of bufotenine which was greater than that of one of the 2 psychogenic drugs or reserpine alone. . Treatment of rats with 5-HTP or iproniazid (increase in the brain-serotonin level) before administration of 0.5 mg/kg LSD produced a considerable decrease of response. If smaller doses of LSD (0.3 mg/kg) or bufotenine were given after 5-HPT was administered, the climbing time was longer than after LSD or bufotenine alone. . Both drugs caused confusion and behavioral changes in trained rats. The induced cross-tolerance suggests that LSD and bufotenine produce their psychogenic effect by the same mechanisms, i.e. interference with normal serotonin metabolism. Reserpine causes a release of bound serotonin in the brain and iproniazid blocks the monoamino oxidase which is probably the main pathway for normal catabolism of serotonin.
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