Possible serotonin-agonist action of veratramine.
Veratramine produces a characteristic excitatory action on the central nervous system, producing both tremor and a characteristic "struggling" behavior. This behavioral excitation is accompanied by changes in serotonin content in hypothalamus. The central serotonin agonist methysergide in doses of 5--15 mg per kg produces a dose-dependent inhibition of veratramine's action, while parachlorophenylalanine has no effect. These results are consistent with a serotonin agonist mechanism to explain veratramine's action.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008784:Methysergide / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D014704:Veratrum Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D014704:Veratrum Alkaloids; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D008784:Methysergide