Autoradiographic studies on the distribution of 3H-2,3,4-trimethoxy-beta-phenylethylamine in the mouse.

The regional distribution of radioactivity was studied in the brain and in other organs of the mouse by light microscopic autoradiography after injection of 3H-2,3,4-trimethoxy-beta-phenylethylamine (2,3,4,-TMPEA), a nonhallucinogenic isomer of mescaline. The distribution patterns were compared with biochemical and autoradiographic results obtained after 3H-mescaline. Although 2,3,4-TMPEA is rapidly deaminated compared to mescaline its distribution pattern in the brain is similar to that of mescaline at 1 h after injection. However, contrary to mescaline the radioactive labeling becomes more and more homogenously distributed in the brain with tiem. The distribution patterns in kidney, pancreas, adrenal, and spinal ganglia were also different from those observed after application of 3H-mescaline.