[Modification of awake-sleep equilibrium by tabernanthine and some of its derivatives in the cat (author's transl)].

Four alkaloid derivatives of ibogamine were injected into the abdomens of cats with permanent brain electrodes. Tabernanthine tartrate and SAD 103 increased wakefulness, reduced slow wave sleep, and temporarily blocked paradoxical (REM) sleep. SAD 103's effects lasted much longer. The other two compounds, SAD 121 and SAD 122, had the opposite effect, slightly increasing both slow wave and paradoxical sleep. The findings suggest different ibogamine derivatives can either promote or suppress sleep stages, with implications for understanding the neurobiology of sleep.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Intraperitoneal injections (ip.) of 4 alkaloid derivatives of ibogamine: tabernanthine tartrate (2 mg/kg), methoxy-16 ibogaine tartrate (SAD 121 - 3 mg/kg), methoxy-16 tabernanthine tartrate (SAD 122 - 2 mg/kg), and tabernanthine parachlorophenoxyacetate (SAD 103 - 7 mg/kg), were administered to chronically implanted cats. Tabernanthine tartrate and SAD 103 provoke an increase in wakefulness level, a reduction in the level of slow wave sleep (SOL) and transient blocking of paradoxical sleep (SP). The duration of this action is much longer with SAD 103 than with tabernanthine tartrate. The inverse is provoked by SAD 121 and SAD 122, with slight increases in SOL and SP levels. Problems raised by the waking effect of tabernanthine tartrate and SAD 103 are discussed in the context of the neurobiology of sleep.