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Pharmacology

ISSN 0031-7012

8 papers in the library · 207 citations · publishing 1971-2001

Papers

Reinforcing Effects of MDMA (‘Ecstasy’) in Drug-Naive and Cocaine-Trained Rats

Pharmacology January 1, 2001 Elisabeth Ratzenboeck, Alois Saria, Norbert Kriechbaum et al. 97 citations

MDMA (ecstasy) is a common illegal drug among European adolescents who are typically inexperienced with hard drugs like cocaine. In rats, the reinforcing effect of intravenously self-administered MDMA did not differ between drug-naive animals and those previously trained with cocaine. MDMA sensitized rats to its own rate-increasing effect but not to that of cocaine. No carryover of cocaine's reinforcing effect to MDMA was observed, indicating that MDMA and cocaine produce distinct interoceptive stimuli in rats.

Animal Pharmacology and Human Psychopharmacology of 3-Methoxy-4,5-Methylenedioxyphenylisopropylamine (MMDA)

Pharmacology January 1, 1973 Alexander T. Shulgin, T. Sargent, Carolina Lopez Naranjo 33 citations

The compound 3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxyphenyl isopropylamine (MMDA) was synthesized and tested for psychodysleptic effects. In animals, its pharmacology was generally unremarkable except for a hypotensive effect in dogs, and the therapeutic index (LD50 rat/MED50 human) was 85. In humans, MMDA enhanced feeling and eyes-closed visual imagery without causing hallucinations or disturbing the sensorium. Reality testing and environmental contact remained intact, though a tendency to withdraw into drowsiness or fantasy occurred. The state of increased emotional availability was easily manipulated in psychotherapy and appeared to enhance insight into subconscious content.

II. The Effects of Some Hallucinogens on Aggressiveness of Mice and Rats

Pharmacology January 1, 1972 Wojciech Kostowski, W Rewerski, T Piechocki 28 citations

The drugs JB-336, psilocybin, ibogaine, and bufotenine all substantially reduced aggressiveness in isolated mice and suppressed muricide (mouse-killing) behavior in rats. The magnitude of this anti-aggressive effect depended on how long the animals had been isolated, the time elapsed since drug injection, and the specific behavioral test employed.

The Effects of some Hallucinogens on Aggressiveness of Mice and Rats

Pharmacology January 1, 1971 W Rewerski, Wojciech Kostowski, T Piechocki et al. 19 citations

LSD, mescaline, and Sernyl each alter aggression and killing behavior differently depending on the species and dose. LSD reduced aggressiveness in isolated mice. Mescaline strongly reduced aggression in mice but had no effect in rats. Sernyl slightly decreased the killing reaction in rats and either decreased or increased aggression in mice depending on the dose level.

Enhancement of morphine antinociception by ibogaine and noribogaine in morphine-tolerant mice.

Pharmacology November 1, 1998 S Sunder Sharma, H N Bhargava 17 citations

In male Swiss-Webster mice, ibogaine and its metabolite noribogaine enhanced morphine's pain-relieving effect in animals that had developed tolerance to morphine, but not in those that had never received morphine. Tolerance was induced by implanting a 25 mg morphine pellet for three days. Both compounds dose-dependently increased morphine antinociception only in morphine-tolerant mice, suggesting they may help restore opioid effectiveness in tolerant states.

Comparison of the hallucinogenic indole alkaloids ibogaine and harmaline for potential immunomodulatory activity.

Pharmacology June 1, 1995 R V House, P T Thomas, H N Bhargava 12 citations

Indole alkaloids ibogaine and harmaline suppress several immune functions in a dose-dependent manner in laboratory tests. At high concentrations (10–100 μmol/L), both compounds reduced T-cell regulatory and effector activity, B-cell function, and natural killer-cell function. Macrophage function was not affected. The suppression was observed across multiple assays, suggesting a broad immunomodulatory effect at elevated doses.

Binding of Mescaline with Subcellular Fractions upon Incubation of Brain Cortex Slices with [14C] Mescaline

Pharmacology January 1, 1977 R. K. Datta, W Antopol Dagger, J. J. Ghosh 1 citation

When brain cortex slices were incubated with glucose, about 65% of radioactive mescaline entered the slices. Roughly one-third of this radioactivity became bound to subcellular components including nuclei, mitochondria, microsomes, and ribosomes. Dialysis did not substantially remove the bound radioactivity. The uptake into slices and binding to subcellular fractions increased over time but were reduced by potassium cyanide, absence of glucose, or heating to 80°C for one minute.

Studies on Accumulation of (14C)-Mescaline in Brain Homogenates: Effects of Psychotropic and Other Agents

Pharmacology January 1, 1975 Nandkumar S. Shah, O.d. Gulati

Mescaline accumulates in the pellet fraction when incubated with rat brain homogenates. High concentrations (1.33 µmol/ml) of chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, fluphenazine, imipramine, desmethylimipramine, nortriptyline, and amitriptyline inhibit this accumulation, with tricyclic antidepressants less potent than tranquilizers. Lower concentrations (0.133–0.44 µmol/ml) are less effective. The drugs do not alter mescaline metabolism, as the ratio of its metabolite TMPA to mescaline remains unchanged. The inhibition of mescaline accumulation by high tranquilizer concentrations may divert more hallucinogen to receptor sites, offering an explanation for why tranquilizers worsen clinical syndromes of hallucinogenic poisoning.