Ontogeny of N,N-dimethyltryptamine and related indolealkylamine levels in neonatal rats

The present study deals with the measurement of the brain levels of the two potent hallucinogens N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (OMB), the biogenic amine tryptamine (TA), and its condensation product 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (THBC) in rats of various ages. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with isotope dilution, we detected DMT, OMB, and THBC in neonatal rats from birth. DMT levels remained low until days 12 and 17 at which time they increased significantly and then returned to the initial low levels for all subsequent ages. The levels of OMB were higher than those measured for DMT with the highest levels being observed at days 12 and 17, and also on day 31. However, the levels for OMB showed much more variation. Although elevated levels of DMT and OMB have been correlated with stress, there are no known functions for these compounds. TA levels remained below detection limits until day 19. THBC levels were observed to be highest on days 22 and 31. The role that THBC plays in mammalian tissues is not known.