Study Finds the 5-HT2 Receptor is Important for the Hallucinogenic Effect of LSD

Researchers find 5-HT2 receptor subtypes in the brain are an important component of the hallucinatory action of LSD and other chemically similar hallucinogens.

June 29, 1987

Using radiolabeled serotonin receptor subtypes, researchers found that LSD, mescaline, and other phenylisopropylamines had a 10-100 fold higher affinity for the 5-HT2 receptor subtype than for the 5-HT1C.The compounds also had 100-1000 fold higher affinity for the 5-HT2 receptor than the 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B subtypes. The hallucinogenic potencies of the compounds were strongly correlated with the 5-HT2 binding affinities.