A systematic study of changes in monoamine neurotransmitters in the rat brain following acute administration of alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT), 5-methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DiPT).

Three synthetic tryptamines—AMT, 5-MeO-AMT, and 5-MeO-DiPT—alter levels of dopamine and serotonin and their metabolites in specific rat brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, dorsolateral striatum, and hippocampus. The effects vary by brain region and compound, with dopamine and serotonin systems playing key roles. These findings provide insight into the neurochemical actions of tryptamine hallucinogens.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT), 5-methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT), and 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DiPT) are three synthetic tryptamines with hallucinogenic properties that are widely abused worldwide. The hallucinogenic effects of tryptamines are primarily related to activation of the 5-HT receptor, and among the many subtypes of 5-HT receptors, the 5-HT2A receptor is the key receptor for hallucinogenic effects. In the present study, the monoamine neurotransmitters DA and its metabolites 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA), 5-HT and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were systematically investigated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), nucleus accumbent (NAc), dorsolateral striatum (DLS) and hippocampus (HIP) using a validated HPLC-ECD analytical method after administration of the three tryptamines at different doses. The results showed that the three tryptamines had certain effects and the effects were different in different brain regions and showed that AMT, 5-MeO-AMT and 5-MeO-DiPT had significant effects on monoaminergic neurotransmitters in rat brains. Among them, DAergic and serotonergic play important roles, and this study provides valuable information for further research on the neurochemical effects of tryptamine hallucinogens in the brain.