In a recent report concerning the reversibility by chlorpromazine of psychoses induced by means of mescaline and d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), careful attention was given to the clinical and electroencephalographic changes.1 Although the clinical changes of this reversal effect were immediate and striking, the conventional electroencephalographic changes were minimal, and it was difficult to assess them. It was noted in another recent study that mescaline and LSD-25 failed to activate temporal-lobe epilepsy either clinically or electroencephalographically.2 Because of these factors, it was hoped that depth electrographic studies might be fruitful in elucidating the effects of these drugs. It was hoped also that study by means of depth electrography of the effects of adrenochrome might elucidate its reported actions of inducing a psychosis without insight in volunteers 3 and increasing the paroxysmal discharges in the electroencephalograms of epileptics.4 Scalp electroencephalography and depth electrography were undertaken as specific aids to diagnosis and as preliminary measures to definitive surgical treatment in each patient in our study. METHODAfter the administration of mescaline and LSD-25, two patients who had intractable epilepsy and Received for publication Jan. 9, 1955. From the Rochester State Hospital. psychosis and three who had chronic schizophrenia were studied by means of the techniques of depth electrography developed and defined in this labora¬ tory.* One of the epileptic and two of the schizo¬ phrenic patients also received adrenochrome. Each patient had extensive control studies, lasting as long as two weeks per patient, previous to the time of administration of the drug. Further control obser¬ vations were repeated every day of the study. Elec¬ trocardiograms were recorded simultaneously with depth electrograms in two patients.The dose of mescaline varied between 400 mg. and 1 gm., whereas that of LSD-25 ranged from 507 to 1507. The dose of adrenochrome f varied between 50 and 75 mg. The mescaline and LSD-25 were administered orally ; the adrenochrome was given intravenously as a freshly prepared solution in 10 cc. of sterile water. At the presumed height of the reactions to mescaline and LSD-25, each patient received an intravenous injection of 50 mg. of chlorpromazine dissolved in 10 cc. of sterile water. The mescaline, LSD-25, and adrenochrome were administered during the fasting state in all instances. CLINICAL RESULTSThe clinical results are summarized in the accompanying Table. This report is based on 18 observations, 6 with mescaline, 6 with LSD-25, and 6 with adrenochrome. With the doses of drugs used, the clinical effects were moderate when compared with the re¬ sponses of a series of volunteers* and a group of epileptics 2 without psychosis, who received substantially smaller doses than were used in this study. Mescaline produced autonomie changes consisting of slight pupillary dilatation and facial flushing. In the psychic sphere, three patients who were negativistic in the...
previous studies of the behavior of cats after the intraventricular injection of various drugs opened up a new method of investigation. By this technique they showed that drugs injected into this area of high pharmacologic sensitivity could evoke various complex behavioral responses and conditions resembling sleep, anesthesia, profound muscular weakness, catatonia, and convulsions. Their classification of the effects characterized by certain common features of reaction suggested further experiments in which, in addition to the effects of the drug alone, antagonisms of various chemicals within the central nervous system might be studied. Of particular interest to experimental psychiatry is the possible antagonism of lysergic acid diethylamide and serotonin. Previously, Gaddum3 had shown the effect of such antagonism on smooth muscle.(1-methyl-3,5,6-indolestriol), and ergotamine. METHODThree cats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium were operated on. Their heads were fixed in a cat Horsley-Clark stereotactic instrument. Midline in¬ cisions were made, and the fascia and temporalis muscles were laterally deflected. A trephination was made 15 mm. anterior to the line of the ex¬ ternal auditory meatus and 7 mm. to the right of the midline. After a tiny incision had been made in the dura mater, a polyethylene catheter with a No. 22 stainless-steel stylet was introduced perpen¬ dicular to the cortex, but on a 15-degree angle with the midline. As the catheter was being inserted, the stylet was frequently withdrawn until clear cerebrospinal fluid, which freely pulsated with respiration, was evident. At this point a Lucite ring 8 mm. in diameter and approximately 4 mm. in height was cemented with Acralite plastic. The cap was securely fastened to the skull by pouring liquid Acralite around the catheter and allowing it to harden. The catheter was then cut off approxi¬ mately 1 cm. above the cortex and was connected to a solid stainless-steel stylet. The catheter and stylet were then covered under a Lucite cone screwed into the skull receptacle (Fig. 1). Post¬ mortem examination demonstrated the patent cath¬ eters ( Fig. 2a and b) in the right lateral ventricle in two cats ; in the third cat the tip of the catheter was located in the third ventricle. Fig. 1.-Cat with intraventricular catheter and electrodes in position.
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