THE NATURE OF THE BINDING BETWEEN LSD AND A 5‐HT RECEPTOR: A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR HALLUCINOGENIC ACTIVITY
British Journal of Pharmacology June 1, 1974 M J Berridge, William Prince 26 citations
LSD mimics serotonin (5-HT) in stimulating fluid secretion, changing electrical potentials, and increasing cyclic AMP in isolated salivary glands of the blowfly Calliphora. Unlike serotonin, LSD disengages slowly from the receptor, causing continued secretion even after repeated washing. Both serotonin and tryptamine prevent LSD from acting, and bound LSD is slowly displaced by agonists like tryptamine or antagonists like gramine. The ability of LSD to remain tightly bound while still functioning as an agonist may explain its profound effects in the central nervous system.