Analytical profile, in vitro metabolism and behavioral properties of the lysergamide 1P-AL-LAD

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is known to induce powerful psychoactive effects in humans, which cemented its status as an important tool for clinical research. A range of analogues and derivatives has been investigated over the years, including those classified as new psychoactive substances. This study presents the characterization of the novel lysergamide N,N-diethyl-1-propanoyl-6-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-9,10-didehydroergoline-8β-carboxamide (1P-AL-LAD) using various mass spectrometric, gas- and liquid chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. In vitro metabolism studies using pooled human liver microsomes (pHLM) confirmed that 1P-AL-LAD converted to AL-LAD as the most abundant metabolite consistent with the hypothesis that 1P-AL-LAD may act as a prodrug. Fourteen metabolites were detected in total; metabolic reactions included hydroxylation of the core lysergamide ring structure or the N⁶ -allyl group, formation of dihydrodiol metabolites, N-dealkylation, N¹ -deacylation, dehydrogenation, and combinations thereof. The in vivo behavioral activity of 1P-AL-LAD was evaluated using the mouse head twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT_2A -mediated head movement that serves as a behavioral proxy in rodents for human hallucinogenic effects. 1P-AL-LAD induced a dose-dependent increase in HTR counts with an inverted U-shaped dose-response function, similar to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and other psychedelics. Following intraperitoneal injection, the median effective dose (ED₅₀ ) for 1P-AL-LAD was 491 nmol/kg, making it almost three times less potent than AL-LAD (174.9 nmol/kg). Previous studies have shown that N¹ -substitution disrupts the ability of lysergamides to activate the 5-HT_2A receptor; based on the in vitro metabolism data, 1P-AL-LAD may induce the HTR because it acts as a prodrug and is metabolized to AL-LAD after administration to mice.