Lysergic acid diethylamide: dissociation of its behavioral and hyperthermic actions by DL-alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine.

Rabbits treated with LSD 25 exhibit characteristic signs of hyper-excitability, increased peripheral sympathetic activity, and hyperthermia. When the rabbits received prior treatment with DL-(alpha)-methyl-p-tyrosine, the excitation and sympathetic actions of LSD 25 were abolished or attenuated, but the hyperthermia was unchanged from that of the controls. Concentrations of norepinephrine in brain stems of treated rabbits were greatly decreased. The excitation of central nervous system and sympathomimetic actions of LSD 25 in the rabbit are apparently mediated by norepinephrine, whereas the hyperthermic action functions. through a nonadrenergic mechanism.