Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a partial agonist of D2 dopaminergic receptors and it potentiates dopamine-mediated prolactin secretion in lactotrophs in vitro
Life Sciences June 1, 1998 Sabrina Giacomelli, Maura Palmery, Luca Romanelli et al. 51 citations
LSD inhibits prolactin secretion from rat pituitary cells by acting on D2 dopamine receptors, but only as a partial agonist: its maximum effect (60% inhibition) is weaker than dopamine's (80%). At moderate concentrations (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁶ M) LSD blocks the inhibitory effect of dopamine and bromocriptine, while at very low concentrations (10⁻¹³–10⁻¹⁰ M) it potentiates dopamine-mediated prolactin inhibition. These results indicate LSD modulates dopaminergic transmission in a complex, dose-dependent manner, which may contribute to its hallucinogenic effects beyond serotonin receptor interaction.