title: Receptor pharmacology of MDMA and related hallucinogens.
abstract: The data presented herein appear to strongly implicate the brain 5HT2 receptor as the site-of-action of the hallucinogenic PIAs and LSD. If so, this discovery represents a major step in understanding the molecular pharmacology of hallucinogenic drugs. Using radioactive hallucinogenic drugs, detailed properties of brain 5HT2 receptors indicating the interaction of 5HT2 receptors with GTP-binding proteins have been revealed. Autoradiographic studies have revealed an extensive cortical distribution of brain 5HT2 receptors; these studies have also suggested that the PIAs may be 5HT1C agonists. Radiolabeling studies in conjunction with drug discrimination studies indicate that MDMA is apparently "amphetamine-like" and not "LSD-like" while MDA is apparently both "LSD-like" and "amphetamine-like." However, MDMA does appear to possess the potential to act as a 5HT2 agonist at high dosages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Albany Medical College, New York 12208.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teitler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leonhardt
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Glennon
mesh_terms: D004290:DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D015198:Designer Drugs; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015198:Designer Drugs; D006213:Hallucinogens; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D004290:DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine; C003943:2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine; D015104:3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine; D007650:Ketanserin; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine