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Biomedical subjects

J L Marini

Publications and source records attributed to J L Marini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

On the specificity of a cat behavior model for the study of hallucinogens.

LSD is the prototype for a cat behavior model for the study of hallucinogens. The model's specificity was tested with the nonhallucinogen methysergide, a d-lysergic acid amide derivative structurally similar to LSD. The frequencies of occurrence of the model behaviors limb flicking, grooming, and head plus body shaking show statistically significant dose dependency after i.p. methysergide (62.5-1000 micrograms/kg), and the maximum frequencies of the methysergide-elicited behaviors occur between 1-3 h post-dose. Methysergide produces statistically significant tolerance to limb flicking and grooming 24 h following an acute dose, and there is statistically significant methysergide-LSD and LSD-methysergide cross tolerance to limb flicking at 24 h. In addition, pretreatment with methysergide 15 min before LSD or lisuride antagonizes their elicitation of model behaviors. The dose-response, time course, and tolerance results with methysergide are analogous to those observed after LSD, showing that methysergide has all of the key properties of the model's prototype and, therefore, that the cat behavior model is not specific for hallucinogens.

Animals↗

Activity of a non-hallucinogenic ergoline derivative, lisuride, in an animal behavior model for hallucinogens.

The behavioral effects of IP administration of lisuride, a non-hallucinogenic iso-lysergic acid amide analog structurally related to d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), were examined in 15 cats. Ten animals were given saline or 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 micrograms/kg of lisuride and observed for 1 h by a rater blind to dose. There was a statistically significant effect of lisuride dose on the frequency of occurrence of the behaviors limb flicking, grooming, and abortive grooming. A time-course study with five cats at the most effective lisuride dose, 50 micrograms/kg, revealed that the frequencies of occurrence of these behaviors reached a maximum during the first 2 h post dose, and were comparable to frequencies after saline by 6 h post dose. An acute tolerance study with four cats scored for 90 min post dose revealed no significant tolerance to a 50 micrograms/kg lisuride test dose administered 6, 24, or 72 h after an initial 50 micrograms/kg dose. Acute cross tolerance studies with four cats scored for 90 min after an initial dose of 50 micrograms/kg of LSD or of lisuride, followed 24 h later by 50 micrograms/kg of lisuride or LSD, revealed no significant cross tolerance. The potency of lisuride relative to LSD was evaluated in six cats that were scored for 60 min following 25 and 50 micrograms/kg of LSD and of lisuride. On a molar basis, scores after lisuride were 51% and 67% those after LSD for limb flicking and grooming. These results indicate that lisuride, a non-hallucinogenic iso-lysergic acid derivative, is a false positive in the animal behavior model for hallucinogens.

Animals↗

Serotonergic and dopaminergic effects of yawning in the cat.

The serotonergic agents LSD (0.01-0.05 mg/kg) and lisuride (0.025 and 0.05 mg/kg) elicited a high frequency of limb flicking in the cat after IP doses; LSD, but not lisuride, elicited a significantly increased frequency of yawning as well. In combination, LSD plus lisuride (0.025 mg/kg each) gave additive frequencies of limb flicking, but the frequency of yawning was half that after LSD alone. The dopamine agonist apomorphine had no significant effect on either yawning or limb flicking over the dose range 0.006 to 3.2 mg/kg. Pretreatment of cats with 1.0 mg/kg of apomorphine (but not with 0.05 mg/kg) significantly reduced the frequency of yawning elicited by 0.01 or 0.025 mg/kg of LSD, but had no effect on limb flicking. The dopamine antagonist haloperidol had no effect on limb flicking at doses from 0.008 to 0.512 mg/kg, but produced a significantly increased frequency of yawning at 0.256 mg/kg, an effect antagonized by lisuride administration. Given that lisuride has more potent dopamine agonist properties than LSD, these results are consistent with serotonergic elicitation of yawning, dopaminergic inhibition of yawning, and with their concomitant interaction in the expression of drug-induced yawning in the cat. The behavioral pharmacologies of limb flicking and yawning are different in this species.

Analgesics↗

Pilocarpine, a non-hallucinogenic cholinergic agonist, elicits limb flicking in cats.

The centrally- and peripherally-acting muscarinic cholinergic agonist pilocarpine (PILO, 0.125-1.0 mg/kg, IP) elicited a significantly increased frequency of occurrence of limb flicking at 0.25-1.0 mg/kg, and significantly increased the frequency of occurrence of other grooming behaviors, in 4-6 cats in the 90 min following its administration. These effects of PILO at 0.5 mg/kg were antagonized by the peripherally-acting antimuscarinic agent, N-methylscopolamine (MESCO, 0.5 mg/kg, IP), when MESCO was administered 15 min before PILO. The same lisuride (LIS, 0.05 mg/kg, IP). These results provide further evidence that a cat behavior model for LSD-like hallucinogens which employs limb flicking and similar grooming behaviors is not specific for hallucinogens; indicate that important "model behaviors" may be elicited by a peripheral mechanism; and show that a peripheral muscarinic cholinergic mechanism is not responsible for LSD- and LIS-elicited limb flicking. The results also suggest that the increased frequency of occurrence of the model behaviors after PILO reflects their function as grooming behaviors, elicited by PILO's intense cholinergic effects, including salivation or sialorrhea and emesis.

Animals↗

Simultaneous assay for L-tryptophan, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, norepinephrine and dopamine in brain.

A routine simultaneous assay for the title compounds is described, which uses a cation-exchange resin for separations, and standard fluorometric methods for analyses. Practicability of the ion-exchange chromatography is enhanced by means of a novel apparatus, and the procedure has the flexibility to permit extension to other endogenous compounds using published techniques.

Animals↗

Multiple drug abuse: examination of drug-abuse patterns in male prisoners.

Preincarceration drug-use patterns were investigated retrospectively in 58 male prisoners, average age 18.6 years, of whom 50% were White, 43% Black, and 7% Hispanic. Fifty-five percent were classified as drug-dependent, 36% as regular, and 9% as casual users of at least one drug. Classification according to numbers of "hard" drugs used regularly gave equal percentages of subjects using none, one to two, or more than two (polydrug users). The polydrug users were predominantly White and often used amphetamines or hallucinogens, while those using one to two "hard" drugs regularly were predominantly Black, eschewed hallucinogens, and preferred narcotics.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Antiaggressive effect of lithium ion in man.

In studies of the psychopharmacology of human aggression, 'aggression' should be related to easily identifiable behavior: angry threats or actual assaults. Aspects of behavior not meeting these criteria but relevant to a study of aggression should be described using appropriate terms such as social dominance, initiative, etc. With these conventions, examination of the heterogeneous literature on lithium treatment of aggression demonstrates that lithium ion exerts an antiaggressive effect in man. A number of hypotheses for the antiaggressive effect are examined using previous studies and new behavioral and biochemical data. It is concluded that the anti-aggressive effect is not due to any of the following: lithium toxicity or side effects; subjective or objective weakness; increased reaction time; reduced coordination or motor performance; frank cognitive deficits; hypothyroidism; reduction of serum testosterone; placebo effect; or underlying manic-depressive illness. Putative "thymoleptic" properties of lithium are too ambiguous to constitute an explanation of lithium's actions in man.

Aggression↗

On the significance of the erythrocyte lithium to plasma lithium ratio.

Correlations between the ratio of erythrocyte to plasma lithium (Le/Lp) and clinical status have been reported by some authors and disputed by others. Examination of the literature on Le/Lp and erythrocyte physiology suggests that Le/Lp is determined by peripheral pharmacokinetic parameters and has no direct relationship to central pathophysiology. Because of this, and because of inconsistencies between studies reporting correlations of the ratio with clinical status, such correlations probably cannot illuminate either the pathophysiology of affective illness or the mode of action of lithium.

Affective Symptoms↗

The effect of lithium on luteinizing hormone and testosterone in man.

Serum luteinizing hormone and testosterone were determined weekly during the course of a comparison of the effects of lithium versus placebo on impulsive aggressive behavior in 16-24 year-old male prisoners. The duration of drug treatment for each individual was up to 3 months. A significant reduction of serious agressive behavioral incidents occurred in the third month on lithium and was accompanied by a significant rise in serum luteinizing hormone, with no change in serum testosterone.

Adolescent↗

On Ho's "modern logic and schizophrenic thinking".

The purpose of this note is to point out that conclusions drawn in the title paper about the role of logic in the schizophrenia thought process are not reliable, since they are based on patients medicated with antipsychotic drugs. The substance of this note is drawn from the title paper and related literature. The principal conclusion is that Dr. Ho's deductions about the role of logic in schizophrenia follow only if one confuses psychiatric diagnosis with psychotic behavior.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

An evaluation of the double-blind design in a study comparing lithium carbonate with placebo.

As part of a study of drug treatment of aggressive behavior to be reported separately, we have evaluated the double-blind procedure in a recently completed comparison of the efficacy of lithium carbonate versus placebo in modifying aggressive behavior in nonpsychotic incarcerated delinquents. We conclude that the side effects of lithium carbonate are sufficient to reveal the medication to most subjects receiving it. Thus, while the study staff could not identify lithium-receivers at better than chance levels, and while subjects who received placebo could not identify their medication at better than chance levels, subjects who received lithium could accurately identify it. On a weekly symptom check list there was no difference between lithium and placebo groups on average lithium target symptoms reported during 4-week pre- and postmedication control periods; however, lithium-receivers reported significantly more target symptoms every week medication was administered. Of 16 subjects who quit the study, 14 had received lithium and nearly all of those who gave reasons for quitting specified side effects, most often nausea. The methodological problems of using lithium in a double-blind design might be overcome by employing a "discontinuation" design, or, speculatively, a double-blind, cross-over design utilizing an "active placebo".

Adolescent↗

The effect of lithium on impulsive aggressive behavior in man.

The authors conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of lithium on aggressive behavior. The 66 subjects, who were prisoners in a medium security institution, ranged in age from 16 to 24 years, were physically healthy and nonpsychotic, and had histories of chronic impulsive aggressive behavior. Subjects received lithium or placebo daily for up to 3 months. There was a significant reduction in aggressive behavior in the lithium group as measured by a decrease in infractions involving violence. The authors suggest that lithium can have a clinically useful effect upon impulsive aggressive behavior when this behavior is not associated with psychosis.

Adolescent↗