5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine: spinal cord and brainstem mediation of excitatory effects on acoustic startle.
The effects of different doses (0.03, 0.06, 0.12, 0.25, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mg/kg body weight) of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) were tested on the acoustic startle reflex in rats. Beginning at 0.12 mg/kg, 5-MeODMT increased startle monotonically up to the highest dose used. 5-MeODMT still increased startle in acutely decerebrate rats or when infused directly onto the spinal cord. The excitatory effects of a high systemic dose of 5-MeODMT were completely blocked by cinanserin, cyproheptadine, and propranolol, but not by parachlorophenylalanine, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, haloperidol, sotalol, or phenoxybenzamine. The results were discussed in terms of a new theory, which suggests that stimulation of serotonin receptors in the spinal cord enhance startle whereas serotonin receptors in the forebrain inhibit startle.
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D003655:Decerebrate State; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D008732:Methoxydimethyltryptamines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D008732:Methoxydimethyltryptamines; D012701:Serotonin