Behavioral effects of dipropyltryptamine in rats: evidence for 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A agonist activity

These studies investigated the role of serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) and 5-HT2A receptors in the behavioral effects of dipropyltryptamine (DPT). Eight rats discriminated 0.56 mg/kg 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) from saline and responded under a fixed ratio 5 schedule of food presentation; 12 other rats were used for observational studies. DOM and DPT increased responding on the DOM lever with 3.2 mg/kg DPT producing greater than 95% responding on the DOM lever; this effect of DPT was antagonized by the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist MDL100907. In another study, the 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT produced lower-lip retraction and, at larger doses, flat body posture; DPT alone produced flat body posture and not lower-lip retraction; MDL100907 alone did not produce either effect. Pretreatment with DPT blocked 8-OH-DPAT-elicited lower-lip retraction, suggesting antagonist activity of DPT at 5-HT1A receptors; however, in the presence of MDL100907 DPT produced not only flat body posture but also lower-lip retraction, suggesting that agonist activity of DPT at 5-HT2A receptors masked agonist activity at 5-HT1A receptors. Lower-lip retraction and flat body posture by DPT in the presence of MDL100907 were attenuated by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635. These findings suggest that DPT has agonist activity at 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors and that effects at 5-HT2A receptors mask effects at 5-HT1A receptors.