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Weidmann H, Cerletti A. 
“Studies on Psilocybin and related compounds. I. Communication. Structure activity relationship of oxyindole-derivatives with regard to their effect on the knee jerk of spinal cats.”. 
Helvet. Physiol. et Pharmacol. Acta. 1960;18:174-182.
Abstract
Psilocin (4-hydroxy-N-dimethyltryptamine) and Psilocybin (its phosphorylated derivative) increase the patellar reflex of spinal cats, while the compounds substituted at C5 butofenin (5-hydroxy-N-dimethyl- tryptamine), its phorphorylated derivative, and serotonin (5-hydroxy-tryptamine) inhibit the patellar reflex. The analogues substituted at C6 or C7 not influence the reflex. . The described effect of these oxyindole derivatives depends to a great extent on the position of the hydroxy- or phosphorylated group in the molecule. . Indeed further investigations - with change of the sidechain on a greater number of hydroxy-tryptamine- derivatives showed that all 5-hydroxy compounds inhibited the patellar reflex of spinal cats (most effectively serotonin), whereas the 4-hydroxy-compounds increased the reflex (most effectively Psilocin). The only exceptions were 4-hydroxy-tryptamine itself and its monomethyl derivative which inhibited the reflex. . As both LSD and Psilocybin are psychotomimetics, one may consider the possibility that a mechanism of action similar to that leading to reflex facilitation is also active at higher levels. However, while both drugs are about equiactive regarding facilitation of reflexes in animals, LSD is about 100 times more potent than Psilocybin with regard to the psychotomimetic effect in man. This fact, to some extent, disagrees with the above hypothesis. . Comment: The findings which were the starting point for these investigations i.e. the different effects of Psilocybin and Psilocin on the one hand, and serotonin and bufotenin and its phosphorylated derivative on the other hand, were published previously. . (See S9-0025)
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