Receptor interaction profiles of novel psychoactive tryptamines compared with classic hallucinogens

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016 Aug;26(8):1327-37. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.05.001. Epub 2016 May 20.

Abstract

The present study investigated interactions between the novel psychoactive tryptamines DiPT, 4-OH-DiPT, 4-OH-MET, 5-MeO-AMT, and 5-MeO-MiPT at monoamine receptors and transporters compared with the classic hallucinogens lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and mescaline. We investigated binding affinities at human monoamine receptors and determined functional serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptor activation. Binding at and the inhibition of human monoamine uptake transporters and transporter-mediated monoamine release were also determined. All of the novel tryptamines interacted with 5-HT2A receptors and were partial or full 5-HT2A agonists. Binding affinity to the 5-HT2A receptor was lower for all of the tryptamines, including psilocin and DMT, compared with LSD and correlated with the reported psychoactive doses in humans. Several tryptamines, including psilocin, DMT, DiPT, 4-OH-DiPT, and 4-OH-MET, interacted with the serotonin transporter and partially the norepinephrine transporter, similar to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine but in contrast to LSD and mescaline. LSD but not the tryptamines interacted with adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors. In conclusion, the receptor interaction profiles of the tryptamines predict hallucinogenic effects that are similar to classic serotonergic hallucinogens but also MDMA-like psychoactive properties.

Keywords: DMT; Hallucinogens; LSD; Mescaline; Psilocybin; Tryptamines.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biogenic Monoamines / metabolism
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Hallucinogens / chemistry
  • Hallucinogens / metabolism
  • Hallucinogens / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Transport Modulators / chemistry
  • Membrane Transport Modulators / metabolism
  • Membrane Transport Modulators / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Psychotropic Drugs / chemistry
  • Psychotropic Drugs / metabolism
  • Psychotropic Drugs / pharmacology*
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / chemistry
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / genetics
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B / chemistry
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B / genetics
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / chemistry
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / genetics
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / chemistry
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / metabolism
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tryptamines / chemistry
  • Tryptamines / metabolism
  • Tryptamines / pharmacology*
  • Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Biogenic Monoamines
  • Hallucinogens
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Transport Modulators
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists
  • Tryptamines
  • Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins