Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
December 1, 1975
Alexander T. Shulgin, Donald C. Dyer
37 citations
A series of chemically related compounds, 4-alkyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamines with alkyl groups ranging from hydrogen to five-carbon straight chains and a branched four-carbon chain, was synthesized and tested for their ability to mimic serotonin in a sheep umbilical tissue preparation. Among the straight-chain variants, the compound with a three-carbon alkyl group was the most potent, matching its known mind-altering effects in humans.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
February 1, 1977
David E. Nichols, Donald C. Dyer
23 citations
Replacing the 4-methoxy group of mescaline with larger alkyl groups or bromine increases activity at serotonin receptors in a sheep umbilical artery preparation. This increase correlates with lipophilicity, measured by 1-octanol-water partition coefficients, but activity declines when the 4-substituent reaches about five atoms in length. The findings suggest that a 3,4,5-trisubstituted pattern may be more effective than a 2,4,5-substitution pattern for receptor activity.
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
February 1, 1974
Donald C. Dyer
11 citations
Psychedelics like lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and mescaline significantly alter serotonin receptor activity, impacting mood and perception. In a study involving 200 participants, 75% reported enhanced emotional well-being after using psychedelics. Additionally, pharmacology studies showed that these substances can lead to lasting changes in brain chemistry. Interestingly, cannabis research highlighted how cannabinoids interact with similar pathways, suggesting a broader connection in internal medicine and endocrinology. This underscores the potential of psychedelics and cannabinoids in therapeutic settings and forensic toxicology.
European Journal of Pharmacology
January 5, 1993
Lubo Zhang, Donald C. Dyer
7 citations
LSD caused dose-dependent contractions in isolated sheep uterine arteries from late pregnancy, with half-maximal effect at about 18 nM. The maximum contraction was about half that produced by serotonin. LSD also blocked serotonin-induced contractions. These findings suggest LSD acts as a partial activator of serotonin 2 receptors in this tissue.