Potentially hallucinogenic 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor ligands bufotenine and dimethyltryptamine in blood and tissues.
Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation January 1, 2005 J Kärkkäinen, T Forsström, J Tornaeus et al. 50 citations
Bufotenine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) are hallucinogenic compounds naturally produced in the human body from serotonin and tryptamine. Using highly sensitive mass spectrometry, researchers detected large amounts of bufotenine in human stools, suggesting a role in intestinal function, while only small amounts were found in somatic or neural tissues and none in blood. The compounds may originate from epithelial cells of the intestine and kidney, though synthesis by gut bacteria is possible. Rapid breakdown by monoamine oxidase or limited formation in most tissues explains their low levels elsewhere.