Acute physiologic and chronic histologic changes in rats and mice exposed to the unique hallucinogen salvinorin A.
Journal of psychoactive drugs January 1, 2003 Mark Mowry, Michael Mosher, Wayne Briner 54 citations
Salvinorin A, a hallucinogen used as a legal alternative to controlled substances, has low physical toxicity even at doses far exceeding typical human exposure. In anesthetized rats given 1600 mcg/kg, no effects were observed on cardiac conduction, temperature, or galvanic skin response, though a nonsignificant rise in pulse pressure occurred. Mice chronically exposed to doses up to 6400 mcg/kg for two weeks showed no significant histologic changes in brain, heart, kidney, bone marrow, blood, or spleen. These findings indicate minimal acute and chronic organ damage, but further research on blood pressure and psychological effects is warranted.