|
Fanchamps A.
“Some Compounds With Hallucinogenic Activity”.
Handbook of Experimental Pharmakologie. 1978;49:567-614.
|
|
Abstract
A. Introduction Although "delusional insanity" has been reported among the manifestations of convulsive ergotism (BARGER, 1931), none of the naturally occurring ergot alkaloids have typical hallucinogenic properties; such properties are confined to a number of semisynthetic derivatives of lysergic acid, the prototype of which is LSD. This substance is the most potent and, by far, the most extensively tested hallucinogen derived from ergot. This chapter will consequently be centered on LSD. Unlike all other modern drugs, this compound has been assayed in man before an extended pharmacologic testing was performed in animals. Furthermore, its most specific and only interesting activity, the psychotomimetic one, cannot be studied directly in laboratory animals. This is one reason why this chapter is dealing only with human pharmacology. The other reason stems from the fact that all relevant data on animal pharmacology are included anyhow in other parts of this book. B. Discovery of LSD LSD was prepared for the first time in 1938 by ALBERT HOFMANN as part of a systematic chemical and pharmacologic investigation of partially synthetic amides of lysergic acid in the Sandoz Research Laboratories (STOLL and HOFMANN, 1943). The diethylamide was synthesized in the hope of obtaining an analeptic, in view of a structural relationship with nikethamide (Fig. 1). A pharmacologic screening performed by ROTHLIN (quoted by STOLL and HOFMANN, 1943) revealed a marked uterotonic effect on the rabbit uterus in vitro and in situ as well as an excitatory action in these animals; in dogs and cats the substance produced cataleptic phenomena, reminiscent of the action of bulbocapnin (ROTHLIN, quoted by STOLL, 1947; ROTHLIN, 1957). Work on LSD then fell in abeyance for a number of years. The discovery of its psychotropic effect was partly due to chance, when 5 years later, in April 1943, HOFMANN decided to prepare a fresh quantity of LSD. In the course of this work, he experienced a remarkable state of intoxication, which he described as follows (HOFMANN, quoted by STOLL, 1947; HOFMANN, 1970a):
|
| Notes # : CHAPTER VIII
Publ: Born GVR, Eichler O, Farah A, Herken H, Welch ADb |
| # |
| Submit Comment |
|
