Effects of LSD-25 and Amphetamine on a Running Response in the Rat

In rats, injection of LSD-25 produces autonomic effects including profuse salivation, urination, and defecation. Within minutes, the animals show initial hyperactivity followed by leg flexion and abdomen touching the floor, sometimes remaining motionless for long periods if undisturbed. For rats trained to climb a rope for food, climbing times increased with higher doses, and at the drug's peak effect some rats did not climb at all.

Study at a glance

Abstract

After injection ofd-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) in the rat, the animal shows symptoms of autonomic effects, such as profuse salivation, urination, and defecation. There is some indication that the somatic nervous system is also involved, since the animal exhibits hyperactivity in the first few minutes after injection, while after three to five minutes there is a tendency for all four legs to flex and the abdomen touches the floor. At this point the animal may remain motionless for long periods if permitted to stay in its living cage undisturbed. These symptoms have been observed by Winter and Flataker1and also by me. Winter and Flataker, in the same study, also observed that for rats trained to climb a rope for food reinforcement, climbing times were increased as a function of dosage levels. At the height of the drug effect some of the rats did not