Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD-25)
A M A Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry – September 01, 1958
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) significantly alters behavior, as shown in experiments with Siamese fighting fish. When exposed to small doses of LSD-25, notable behavioral changes were observed. In addition, potassium cyanide and sodium azide were tested as respiration inhibitors, revealing their impact on the fish's responses. This research involved intact animals and explored various chemical processes that may connect to psychotic patterns in humans, potentially shedding light on neuroendocrine regulation and its links to schizophrenia.
Abstract
Although it is known that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) enters the brain, the mechanism by which LSD-25 acts to produce the psychotic patterns in man is unknown. Experiments which are designed to investigate the brain process in the intact animal might lead to a concept that could be developed to study the chemical process originating or connected with clinically occurring schizophrenia. We have recently been studying the effect of potassium cyanide, sodium azide, hydrazine, and oxygen lack, among other respiration inhibitors, on an intact animal, the Siamese fighting fish. In addition, the action of oxidation-reduction indicators, like methylene blue, Bindschedler's green, and other dye systems, has been explored. It has previously been shown that the behavior of the Siamese fighting fish changes markedly in the presence of small doses of LSD-25 in the surrounding water.1-3It may now be reported that KCN and sodium azide act on the Siamese