Relationship of brain monoamine and locomotor activity in rats

The emerging roles of human trace amines and human trace amine-associated receptors (hTAARs) in central nervous system

Human trace amines (TAs) are endogenous compounds, previously almost ignored in human pathology for many reasons (difficulty of their measurement in biological fluids, unknown receptors for elusive amines), are now considered to play a significant role in synaptic transmission within the central nervous system (CNS) acting as neuromodulators. The recent discovery of a novel family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that includes individual members that are highly specific for TAs indicates a potential role for TAs as vertebrate neurotransmitters or neuromodulators, although the majority of these GPCRs so far have not been demonstrated to be activated by TAs. Human trace amine receptors (including TAAR1 TAAR2 TAAR5 TAAR6 TAAR8 TAAR9) are expressed in the brain and play significant physiological and neuropathological roles by activation of trace amines. We herein discuss the recent findings that provide insights into the functional roles of human trace amines (including P-Octopamine, β phenylethylamine, Tryptamine, Tyramine, Synephrine, 3-Iodothyronamine, 3-Methoxytyramine, N-Methyltyramine, N-Methylphenethylamine) in brain. Furthermore, we discuss the known functions of human trace amine receptors in brain.

Perinatal treatment

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) regulates the development of 5HT neurons and target tissues during neurogenesis, while later it assumes the function of a neurotransmitter. Alterations in serotonin neurotransmission are indicated as biological substrates in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism. The most consistent 5HT-related finding in autistic disorder is hyperserotonemia, but the mechanism of its development and its relation to central 5HT dysfunction are still unclear. In an attempt to pharmacologically induce hyperserotonemia during the period of most intensive development of 5HT neurons, and to later investigate its effects on central 5HT functions, we have treated rats from gestational day 13 until postnatal day 21 with 2 mg/kg of the nonselective irreversible MAO inhibitor tranylcypromine (TCP). The control group received saline in the same manner. TCP treated rats displayed a long-lasting significant increase in platelet 5HT concentrations compared to the control rats. The TCP treated group had smaller litters, significantly lower pup survival rate, and slower weight gain during the post-weaning free-feeding period than the control group. Pups from the TCP group returned to their dams significantly slower than the control pups suggesting lower separation anxiety. Our results indicate that the perinatal treatment of rats with tranylcypromine has induced both, disregulation of the peripheral 5HT homeostasis and disturbances in central 5HT physiology in pups and young rats. The extent of the changes in the central serotonergic compartment in adult rats will be explored in our further studies.

Tryptamine: a metabolite of tryptophan implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders

Although early interest in the biomedical relevance of tryptamine has waned in recent years, it is clear from the above discussion that the study of tryptamine is worthy of serious consideration as a factor in neuropsychiatric disorders. The study of [3H]-tryptamine binding sites indicates an adaptive responsiveness characteristic of functional receptors. The question raised by Jones (1982d) on whether tryptamine is acting centrally as a neurotransmitter or a neuromodulator still remains mostly unanswered, although the evidence cited within this review strongly suggests a modulatory role for this neuroactive amine (see also Juorio and Paterson, 1990). The synthesis and degradative pathways of tryptamine, as well as the intricate neurochemical and behavioral consequences of altering these pathways, are now more fully understood. It is not yet clear what the role of tryptamine is under normal physiological [homeostatic] conditions, however, its role during pathological conditions such as mental and physical stress, hepatic dysfunction and other disorders of metabolism (i.e. electrolyte imbalance, increased precursor availability, enzyme induction or alterations in enzyme co-factor availability) may be quite subtle, perhaps accounting for various sequelae hitherto considered idiopathic. The evidence for a primary role for tryptamine in the etiology of mental or neurological diseases is still relatively poor, although the observations that endogenous concentrations of tryptamine are particularly susceptible to pharmacological as well as physiological manipulations serve to reinforce the proposition that this indoleamine is not simply a metabolic accident but rather a neuroactive compound in its own right. Finally, one might wonder what proportion of the data attributed to modifications of 5-HT metabolism might, in fact, involve unrecognized changes in the concentrations of other neuroactive metabolites of tryptophan such as tryptamine.

Cytomegalovirus infection of the developing brain alters catecholamine and indoleamine metabolism

Tissue concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and selected metabolites were measured in the spinal cord, cerebellum, cerebral cortex and caudate-putamen of developing mice following intraventricular inoculation with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) on postnatal day 10. MCMV-infected animals exhibited transient signs of neurological impairment, including apparent hypertonicity of hindlimb extensors and abnormal gait, beginning on days 14-16 and continuing for 3-5 days. At the onset of neurological impairment, tissue concentrations of NA were significantly reduced in the spinal cord (20%), cerebellum (32%) and cerebral cortex (40%) of infected animals. Levels of 5-HT were significantly increased in the caudate-putamen (50%), while 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was increased in both the spinal cord (94%) and caudate-putamen (65%). The ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT, which is frequently used as an estimate of turnover of 5-HT, was significantly increased in the spinal cord (90%) at the onset of neurological impairment. In the caudate-putamen of MCMV-infected animals, there were significant increases in the tissue levels of DA (37%), homovanillic acid (HVA, 41%) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC, 34%). All neurochemical parameters were normal in the MCMV-infected animals by postnatal day 70, approximately 50 days after the resolution of neurological signs. These results indicate transient alterations in monoamine metabolism in the developing nervous system during the pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus-induced movement and postural disorders.

Behavioral and genetic interrelationships between locomotor activity and brain biogenic amines

1. Spontaneous locomotor activity of four mouse strains, the albino ICR, BALB/C, the black C57 BL/6 and the brown CDF-I, was studied in conjunction with whole brain content of select biogenic amines and major metabolites. The ICR and C57BL/6 mice scored the highest and lowest motility among the strains studied, respectively. 2. The ICR mice motility were the most sensitive to experimental stress among the mouse strains evaluated. 3. Brain dopamine concentrations were greater in ICR and CDF-I mice than the other two mouse strains. This is compared to high serotonin and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid levels determined in C57BL/6. 4. A relationship between the ICR mouse strain with a high motility and the ratios of brain dopamine:homovanillic acid and between serotonin:5-hydroxyindole acetic acid was established. 5. An inverse relationship between ICR mice motility and the ratio of metanephrine and normetanephrine:3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) was determined. 6. It is concluded that genetic predisposition may account for a relationship between motor activity and brain biogenic amines which may give insight into the susceptibility of different patients to the development of certain extrapyramidal diseases.

Analysis of tryptamine at the femtomole level in tissue using negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An ultra sensitive method for the detection of tryptamine, an endogenous amine in mammalian neuronal systems, at the femtomole level has been developed using negative chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (NCI-GC-MS). The amine is converted into a perfluorinated spirocyclic derivative, e.g. 1-pentafluoro-2-methylenepyrrolidine-3-spiro-3'-(3H-indole) which is detected using selected-ion monitoring of the (M-2HF) ions of the endogenous and deuterated internal standard compounds. Two mass spectrometers were compared; they gave minimum detectable quantities from tissue samples of 40 pg (VG-7070F) and 0.9 pg (VG-70S) respectively. These detection levels are approximately 5-200 times lower than have been obtained by previous MS methods.

Methylmercury-induced movement and postural disorders in developing rat: regional analysis of brain catecholamines and indoleamines

Subcutaneous administration of methylmercury (MeHg) to rats during early postnatal development resulted in movement and postural disorders by day 22-24. Tissue concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and selected metabolites were measured in the cerebral cortex, spinal cord and caudate-putamen at the onset of neurological impairment and at two subclinical stages of toxicity. In the cerebral cortex there was a significant increase in tissue concentrations of 5-HT (54-81%) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (HIAA, 133-178%) at the onset of neurological impairment. Similar increases were detected in the spinal cord for 5-HT (19-43%) and HIAA (98-123%) as well as an increase in the concentration of NE (42-51%). In the caudate-putamen there were significant increases in the concentrations of NE (98-116%), HIAA (108-124%) and DA (28-29%) with a significant decrease in the concentration of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC, 20-27%); however, tissue levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) did not change significantly. Many of these changes were detected at subclinical stages of MeHg toxicity. The ratio of HIAA/5-HT, which is frequently used as an estimate of turnover for 5-HT, was significantly increased in all 3 tissues at the onset of neurological impairment (38-94%) and at one subclinical stage (47-114%). The ratio of (DOPAC + HVA)/DA was significantly decreased in caudate-putamen at all 3 stages of toxicity (18-40%). These changes indicate altered metabolism in aromatic amine systems in the developing central nervous system during the pathogenesis of MeHg-induced movement and postural disorder.

Injections of deuterated tryptamine into the nucleus accumbens of the rat: effects on locomotor activity and monoamine metabolism

Previous studies have shown that the systemic injection of tryptamine stimulates locomotion in rats and that the nucleus accumbens, a region involved in locomotion, contains the largest concentrations of binding sites for tryptamine in the brain of the rat. The present study examined the behavioral and neurochemical effects of bilateral injections into the accumbens of a deuterated analog of tryptamine, a,a-[2H]tryptamine. Injections of 25 micrograms a,a-[2H]tryptamine increased movements in rats at 25-70 min after injection and increased vertical (rearing) activity at 25-40 min. Injections of 50 micrograms of a,a-[2H]tryptamine produced a transient suppression of movement and vertical activity at 5-15 min, followed by increases in these activities at 40-65 min after injection that were comparable to the increases elicited by 10 micrograms of d-amphetamine. At 30 min after the injection of 50 micrograms a,a-[2H]tryptamine the concentration of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens was increased by 87%, and was preceded by a transient decrease in the level of the metabolite of dopamine homovanillic acid. The levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine and its major metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the nucleus accumbens were not changed. Thus, a,a-[2H]tryptamine may interact with tryptamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens to modulate locomotor behavior through mesolimbic dopamine neurons.

Effects of 5-HT receptor subtype-selective drugs on locomotor activity and motor habituation in the DHT adult rat model

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) induces biphasic time and dose dependent effects on locomotor activity (LMA) and motor habituation in rats with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (DHT) lesions. To identify the role of serotonin (5-HT) receptors in these responses, we studied the effects of 5-HT2 receptor antagonists on LMA occurring spontaneously and evoked by 5-HTP or putative selective 5-HT agonists in rats injected intracisternally with DHT or vehicle. Motor habituation was assessed by analysis of computer-tabulated 10 minute "bins" during hour long recording. Neuroleptic 5-HT2 antagonists prevented 5-HTP stimulation of LMA in DHT-lesioned rats in the rank order of potency pirenperone greater than pipamperone greater than ketanserin = cinanserin. The non-neuroleptic ritanserin, however, did not reduce LMA stimulated by the 5-HT1B agonist RU24969 but did reverse transient suppression of LMA induced by high dose 5-HTP and by the putative 5-HT2 agonist DOI. RU24969, like 5-HTP, induced a failure of motor habituation which differed from DOI-evoked alteration. 8-OH-DPAT did not affect motor habituation at the dose tested. These data suggest that the 5-HT1B site mediates 5-HTP-evoked locomotor hyperactivity in the DHT model, that the 5-HT2 site participates in the transient hypoactivity seen with high doses of 5-HTP, and that 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 sites may be functionally linked. Both sites differentially influence motor habituation, which appears to be under complex regulation. Bin analysis is a sensitive index of these habituation effects.

Effect of intranigral administration of 6-hydroxydopamine and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine on rat brain tryptamine

Earlier experiments have shown that unilateral electrolytic lesions of the substantia nigra result in significant reductions in the rate of accumulation of rat striatal tryptamine. For elucidation of the type of neuronal degeneration that is associated with tryptamine depletion, the effects of intranigral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine or 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, which would affect, respectively, dopamine- or indoleamine-containing neurons, have been assessed. Nigral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions resulted in an ipsilateral reduction in the rate of accumulation of striatal tryptamine, but no changes were observed after nigral injections of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine. The present results suggest that decreases in the pargyline-induced accumulation of striatal tryptamine may be associated with lesions of the nigral dopamine-containing cell bodies. Alternatively, there may exist specific tryptamine-containing neurons that are damaged by 6-hydroxytryptamine and unaffected by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine.

Effects of pargyline, reserpine and neurotoxin lesions on [3H]tryptamine binding sites in rat brain

[3H]Tryptamine binding sites were measured in 4 areas of rat brain following treatment with either pargyline or reserpine for 12 days, or 5 days and 30 days following intraventricular injections of 6-hydroxydopamine or 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine. Pargyline treatment decreased [3H]tryptamine binding in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, striatum and hypothalamus. Reserpine treatment increased binding in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, but not in the striatum or hypothalamus. Neither 6-hydroxydopamine nor 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine altered [3H]tryptamine binding in any of the 4 brain areas. These results indicate that [3H]tryptamine binding sites in brain may be modified by drugs that can potentially affect tryptamine metabolism, and that the sites are not located on catecholamine or serotonin axons.

Autoradiographic localization and pharmacology of unique [3H]tryptamine binding sites in rat brain

The distribution and pharmacological specificity of [3H]tryptamine binding to coronal and horizontal sections of the rat brain were investigated with computer-assisted autoradiography. [3H]Tryptamine bound to brain regions with up to 58% specificity, as determined with 10 microM tryptamine as a displacer. The capacity (Bmax) of saturable [3H]tryptamine binding sites was greatest in the nucleus accumbens and claustrum (660-760 fmol mg protein-1), with intermediate binding site concentrations in hippocampus, septum, olfactory tubercle, frontal cortex, cingulate cortex and caudate-putamen. The phenylalkylamine, p-methoxyphenylpropylamine and the beta-carboline, harmaline, as well as 5-methyl-tryptamine, displaced [3H]tryptamine from each of these brain regions with a potency that approximated the 5-9 nM affinity (Kd) of [3H]tryptamine binding to each site. Only micromolar concentrations of serotonin displaced [3H]tryptamine, which did not bind to S1, S2, D1, D2 or alpha- or beta-adrenergic sites. The unique pharmacology and the regional overlap of [3H]tryptamine binding sites with dopaminergic nerve terminals in the nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen suggest that tryptamine-containing neurons in the mammalian brain may modulate behavioral functions such as locomotion.

Effects of drug-induced changes in brain monoamines on aggression and motor behavior in mice

Mice maintained on a basal casein diet supplemented with 4% L-tyrosine potentiated L-DOPA effects on aggression. At low doses (12.5-25 mg/kg) L-DOPA increased aggression whereas at high doses (50-100 mg/kg) it decreased aggression. 5-HTP (50-200 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent decrease in aggression and motor activity which was antagonized by pretreatment with dietary L-tyrosine (4%) or L-DOPA (50 mg/kg). L-DOPA induced reductions in motor activity were, in turn, antagonized by 5-HTP. Increases in motor activity following d-amphetamine (3 mg/kg) were sharply reduced by 5-HTP (50-100 mg/kg), but 5-HTP potentiated reductions in aggression following d-amphetamine. The concentration in brain of tyrosine, DOPA, dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), DOPAC, HVA, tryptophan, serotonin (5-HT), and 5-HIAA were obtained following drug and diet treatments. The changes observed, particularly in DA and 5-HT metabolites, provide further evidence for an inhibitory role of brain 5-HT systems in the mediation of the behavioral effects of d-amphetamine and the catecholamine precursors, L-tyrosine and L-DOPA.

Characterization of [3H]tryptamine binding sites in brain

[3H]Tryptamine binds with high affinity to sites on rat brain membranes. The sites have the characteristics of tryptamine receptor recognition sites. These sites are widely distributed among rat brain regions with the highest density occurring in the cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus. The site is also found in human cerebral cortex. The binding site is localized mainly to the synaptosomal fraction. Drug competition studies indicate that the [3H]tryptamine binding site is distinct from serotonin receptors. Drugs that are potent inhibitors of [3H]tryptamine binding include tetrahydro-beta-carboline, quipazine, phenylethylamine, amphetamine, p-chloroamphetamine and methamphetamine.

Hyperalgesia produced by the intrathecal administration of tryptamine to rats

Tryptamine was applied directly into the spinal subarachnoid space of rats via permanently indwelling cannulas. Changes in pain-perception were measured by changes in the latency of the tail-flick in response to a radiant heat source of low intensity. While an intrathecal injection of serotonin has been previously shown to be analgesic, exogenous tryptamine produced dual effects on the pain-threshold, depending on the dose of tryptamine injected. Low doses of tryptamine (100 and 200 micrograms/rat) injected intrathecally onto the sacral area of the spinal cord appeared to be hyperalgesic by significantly decreasing the average tail-flick latency by 5 min after injection. Administration of the serotonin antagonist methysergide alone was without effect on the average tail-flick reaction time when injected either intrathecally or subcutaneously. However, pretreatment with either methysergide or cinanserin not only failed to inhibit tryptamine's potentiation of nociception, but actually enhanced the hyperalgesia produced by tryptamine. In contrast, a dose of 400 micrograms of tryptamine significantly increased the average tail-flick latency, suggesting an analgesic effect at this higher dose. This analgesic effect of 400 micrograms of tryptamine was completely inhibited by subcutaneously administered methysergide, while intrathecally injected methysergide produced even greater decreases in the tail-flick latencies after this high dose of tryptamine. These results suggest that tryptamine, although it differs from serotonin by only one hydroxyl group, may play a role in nociception which is opposite that played by serotonin.

Tryptamine-induced myoclonus in guinea-pigs pretreated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor indicates pre- and post-synaptic actions of tryptamine upon central indoleamine systems

Tryptamine (1-320 mg/kg) evoked only slight muscle jerking in naive guinea-pigs but, in animals pretreated with pargyline (75 mg/kg; 1 hr previously), tryptamine induced a dose-dependent (6-160 mg/kg) myoclonus. The myoclonus induced by tryptamine (40 mg/kg) plus pargyline (75 mg/kg) was differentially inhibited by the indoleamine receptor antagonists, methergoline (5 mg/kg) which was more potent than methysergide (10 mg/kg), mianserin (10 mg/kg) which was more potent that cyproheptadine (10 mg/kg) and propranolol (20 mg/kg) which was more potent than cinanserin (10 mg/kg). This rank order of potency differed from that observed for the order of potency of these drugs in inhibiting the myoclonus induced by L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) plus carbidopa in guinea-pigs (Luscombe, Jenner and Marsden, Neuropharmacology, 1981), perhaps indicating involvement of pharmacologically distinct indoleamine receptors. Manipulation of presynaptic function of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) by tryptophan hydroxylase inhibition with p-chlorophenylalanine to produce depletion of cerebral 5HT, or by an L-tryptophan load to elevate 5HT in brain, suggested that the functional integrity of serotonergic neurones is required for the expression of myoclonus induced by tryptamine plus pargyline. A range of blockers of 5HT re-uptake did not alter the jerking produced by tryptamine (40 mg/kg) in guinea pigs pretreated with pargyline (75 mg/kg; 1 hr previously), or the threshold myoclonus induced by a smaller dose of tryptamine (10 mg/kg; plus pargyline 75 mg/kg). It is suggested that myoclonus induced by tryptamine in guinea pigs pretreated with pargyline involves activation of post-synaptic indoleamine receptors by tryptamine by a mechanism which requires intact presynaptic function of 5HT.

Excitatory effects of kynurenine and its metabolites, amino acids and convulsants administered into brain ventricles: differences between rats and mice

When introduced intracerebroventricularly, quinolinic acid appeared to be the only kynurenine metabolite among those tested (L- and DL-kynurenine sulfate, kynurenic and nicotinic acids, nicotinamide) which induced locomotor excitement and clonic seizures in rats; in high dosage all exhibited convulsant action in mice. L-Kynurenine sulfate (500 micrograms) induced continuous rotation in rats around a longitudinal axis in one or other direction. It also potentiated the convulsant effect of strychnine sulfate and caffeine. Neither the excitatory amino acids, L-glutamic and L-aspartic acids nor the inhibitory amino acids, GABA, glycine and taurine induced excitement or seizures in rats but did in mice. In rats, GABA, glycine and taurine induced sedation, side position and discoordination. The convulsants, strychnine sulfate and pentylenetetrazole, induced seizures both in rats and mice. Differences between species may derive from the better access of intracerebroventricularly administered drugs to mouse hippocampus. Thus mice may be preferable for studies of this type on excitatory amino acids (including kynurenine pathway metabolites) and rats for those on inhibitory amino acids.

Tryptamine: a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter in mammalian brain?

Tryptamine synthesized by decarboxylation of L-tryptophan occurs as an endogenous constituent of mammalian brain albeit at very low concentrations (low ng/g range). It is primarily metabolized by oxidative deamination by MAO and possesses an extremely rapid turnover and half-life. Subcellular localization appears to be in nerve terminals and it is releasable by electrical or potassium evoked depolarization. Neuropharmacological and electrophysiological data strongly suggest the existence of post-synaptic receptors for tryptamine independent of those for 5HT. There may exist a rostrally projecting neuronal tryptamine containing system arising from cell bodies in or close to the nucleus raphé medianus. The demonstration of specific receptors for tryptamine in the CNS strongly indicates a transmitter role, although a strong case can be made for a role as a modifier of central 5HT systems. The possibility also exists that 5HT and tryptamine may be mediators of functionally opposite neuronal pathways. Whatever the role of tryptamine in the CNS it is clear that it not simply present as an accident of metabolism or a "biological artefact." The indications are that it possesses important functions in central neurotransmission.

A behavioural and biochemical study in rats of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists and antagonists, with observations on structure-activity requirements for the agonists

1 The effect of the putative 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor antagonists, methysergide, methergoline, mianserin, cyproheptadine, cinanserin (all at 10 mg/kg), methiothepin (5 mg/kg) and (-)-propranolol (20 mg/kg) on the behavioural responses to tranylcypromine (10 mg/kg) followed 30 min later by L-tryptophan (100 mg/kg) was examined.2 Methysergide, methergoline, methiothepin and (-)-propranolol inhibited head weaving, forepaw treading and hind-limb abduction. Methysergide and methergoline increased reactivity. In contrast, cypropheptadine, cinanserin and mianserin had no effects on the behaviour.3 Similar findings were obtained when the behaviours were elicited by administration of tranylcypromine (10 mg/kg) followed by the putative 5-HT receptor agonist, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) (2 mg/kg).4 When the behaviours were elicited by the putative 5-HT receptor agonist, quipazine (50 mg/kg), all the drugs effectively inhibited head weaving and forepaw treading.5 When the dose of cypropheptadine was doubled to 20 mg/kg an inhibition of the tranylcypromine/L-tryptophan induced behaviours was seen.6 Methiothepin produced a marked inhibition of apomorphine-induced locomotor activity whilst all the others enhanced this response, suggesting that only methiothepin inhibits the 5-HT behaviours by dopamine antagonism and that the increased reactivity seen following tranylcypromine/L-tryptophan after pretreatment with methysergide or methergoline might be due to enhanced dopamine function.7 Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine resulted in enhanced behavioural responses to both 5-MeODMT and quipazine.8 Both methergoline and methiothepin decreased the rate of 5-HT synthesis in whole brain but not spinal cord and methergoline decreased spinal cord 5-HIAA concentration. None of the other drugs had any significant effects on the concentration of 5-HT, 5-HIAA or 5-HT synthesis rate in brain or spinal cord.9 Experiments with compounds structurally related to quipazine and with molecular models suggested that quipazine produces behavioural changes probably by stimulating the 5-HT receptor in a similar way to 5-HT but that it would bind weakly, in agreement with ligand-receptor binding studies.10 It is suggested, therefore, that cyproheptadine, cinanserin and mianserin fail to inhibit 5-HT and 5-MeODMT-induced behaviours because they are weak antagonists whilst they are able to inhibit the same behaviours induced by quipazine because it is a weak agonist.11 These data indicate that extreme care should be taken in accepting or rejecting 5-HT as a mediator of behaviours or of other responses unless several antagonists or agonists have been examined.

Behavioural changes induced by N,N-dimethyl-tryptamine in rodents

1 N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in pargyline pretreated rodents induced a dose-dependent behavioural syndrome consisting of hyperactivity, prostration and hindlimb abduction, mild tremor, Straub tail, retropulsion and jerking. 2 In rats pretreated with pargyline, the behavioural syndrome induced by DMT differed from that induced by L-tryptophan or quipazine, in the lack of forepaw treading and head-weaving and in the presence of only mild tremor. 3 The hyperactivity component of the DMT-induced behavioural syndrome in pargyline-pretreated mice was potentiated by cyproheptadine, methergoline, and mianserin, inhibited by cinanserin, haloperidol, pimozide, methiothepin and propranolol, and not affected by 501C67-sulphate and methysergide. 4 The maximal behavioural changes induced by DMT in rats, other than hyperactivity, were unaffected by pretreatment with cyproheptadine, methysergide, and cinanserin. However, propranolol reduced the intensity of all behavioural effects apart from body jerking, and methergoline decreased the duration of prostration. Phenoxybenzamine and haloperidol, in contrast, enhanced prostration. 5 DMT plus pargyline did not induce circling behaviour in mice with a unilateral 6-hydroxy-dopamine lesion of the nigro-striatal pathway. 6 The DMT-induced behavioural syndrome appears to consist of two components, (a) hyperactivity and (b) other behavioural changes. They differ in their response to drugs affecting brain monoamines. The hyperactivity component may be expressed via dopamine mechanisms, but the other behavioural changes are not. The two behaviours do not respond consistently to drugs believed to alter brain 5-hydroxytryptamine function.

The effects of 5-HT uptake- and MAO-inhibitors on L-5-HTP-induced excitation in rats

The behavioural syndrome caused by L-5-HTP in rats was used for the study of effects of selective 5-HT uptake inhibitors and inhibitors of MAO on central 5-HT receptors. A good correlation was found between the relative potencies of drugs in inhibiting the 5-HT uptake in the rat brain and in intensifying L-5-HTP-induced behavioural stimulation. The potentiation of the L-5-HTP syndrome by the MAO inhibitors correlated with the inhibition of the A- but not of the B-form of the brain monoamine oxidase. In rats treated with the maximally inhibiting dose of a 5-HT uptake inhibitor, MAO inhibitors were still able to increase the intensity of the L-5-HTP syndrome, while the combination of maximal doses of two 5-HT uptake inhibitors did not produce a more intense syndrome than that produced by one 5-HT uptake inhibitor alone. The L-5-HTP-induced behavioural syndrome in rats seems to afford an experimental model allowing the quantification and characterization of the interaction of drugs with serotonin metabolism in the brain.

Pargyline and tryptophan enhancement of tonic immobility: paradoxical attenuation with combined administration

Four experiments were conducted to examine the individual and combined effects of pargyline and tryptophan on the duration of tonic immobility in chickens. Injection of either compound alone produced a dose-dependent potentiation of tonic immobility. However, combined administration of pargyline and tryptophan resulted in a dramatic attenuation of the response and this effect was completely blocked by pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine. In addition to reducing the duration of tonic immobility, combined administration of pargyline and tryptophan produced a complex behavioral syndrome which may be analogous to that observed in mammals after similar drug treatment. These results suggest the need for a modification of the recently proposed serotonergic-raphe model of tonic immobility.

The effects of putative 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonists on the behaviour produced by administration of tranylcypromine and L-tryptophan or tranylcypromine and L-DOPA to rats

1 The putative 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor blocking drugs methysergide (10 mg/kg) and methergoline (5 mg/kg) were found to abolish some components of the hyperactivity syndrome, including head weaving and forepaw treading, which follow administration to rats of tranylcypromine (20 mg/kg) and L-tryptophan (100 mg/kg). Hyperactivity and hyper-reactivity were potentiated with a resultant increase in automated locomotor activity counts. In contrast (-)-propranolol (20 mg/kg) inhibited all features of the syndrome. The same results were obtained with these drugs when the behaviour was elicited by p-chloroamphetamine (10 mg/kg) or by tranylcypromine and tryptamine (10 mg/kg). 2 Methysergide and methergoline had similar effects on the syndrome produced by tranylcypromine and L-DOPA (50 mg/kg) whereas propranolol was without effect. 3 None of the putative 5-HT receptor antagonists affected brain 5-HT turnover as assessed by rate of accumulation of 5-HT following monoamine oxidase inhibition with tranylcypromine. 4 Microinjections of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine into the spinal cord resulted in a 70% fall in cord 5-HT concentrations without an effect on brain 5-HT concentrations. The behavioural response to the putative 5-HT receptor agonist, 5-methoxy N,N-dimethyltryptamine (2 mg/kg), was potentiated in these animals suggesting that 5-HT receptors become supersensitive on denervation, and that some components of the behavioural syndrome are mediated by spinal cord 5-HT receptors. 5 Pretreatment with alpha-methyl p-tyrosine (2 X 200 mg/kg) delayed the onset of all components of the behaviour elicited by tranylcypromine/L-tryptophan by 60 min, indicating an involvement of catecholamines in the syndrome. 6 p-Chloroamphetamine-induced 5-HT depletion had no effect on any component of the tranylcypromine-L-DOPA behaviour.

Stimulant and convulsive effects of kynurenines injected into brain ventricles in mice

Each of six kynurenines tested (DL-kynurenine, quinolinic, 3-hydroxy-anthranilic, xanthurenic, picolinic, and nicotinic acids) injected into brain ventricles in mice in doses of 25--60 mcg produced motor excitement and/or clonic convulsions. Anthranilic acid did not produce these effects. The strongest metabolite was quinolinic acid, which was active in a dose of 1 mcg. It was also the only compound which produced motor excitement and convulsions after intraperitoneal injection (in doses of 400--600 mg/kg, i.e. 10,000--15,000 mcg per mouse). The hypothermic effect of intraventricularly-injected kynurenines was roughly similar to that of intraperitoneally-injected material at 100--1000 times higher doses. These data suggest poor penetration of kynurenines formed in the liver into the brain, and the possible involvement of these metabolites of tryptophan (particularly if they are formed inside the brain) in the mechanism of seizures.

Effects of tranylcypromine and pargyline on brain tryptamine

Tranylcypromine produces behavioral excitation while pargyline produces depression. Tranylcypromine increased brain tryptophan which led to an accumulation of tryptamine. The levels of tryptamine after tranylcypromine were found to be 3 times those found after pargyline.

Effect of butaclamol, a new neuroleptic, on serotoninergic mechanisms

Butaclamol (1.0-0.1 mg kg-1, i.p.) and spiroperidol (1-0-0-5 mg kg-1, i.p.) but not (-)-butaclamol (15 mg kg-1, i.p.), blocked the hyperactivity induced in rats by tranylcypromine-L-tryptophan pretreatment. Neither butaclamol nor spiroperidol altered the accumulation of brain 5-HT following parglyine or the decline of brain 5-HT following inhibition with the tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor alpha-propyldopacetamide thus indicating that butaclamol and spiroperidol do not affect either the synthesis or the turnover of brain 5-HT. It is concluded that the antagonism of the tranylcypromise-L-tryptophan-induced hyperactivity by butaclamol and spiroperidol is due to their blockade of dopaminergic receptors rather than an action on neuronal serotoninergic mechanisms.