EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES WITH LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE (LSD-25)

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) was studied in both psychotic and normal subjects, with findings generally confirming earlier work by Stoll. The chemistry of ergot alkaloids is reviewed: all lysergic acid alkaloids are based on lysergic acid, a polycyclic nitrogenous carboxylic acid that has not been synthesized. Natural ergot alkaloids contain d-lysergic acid and are divided into two groups—the ergotamine-ergotoxine group, where d-lysergic acid is combined with a peptide, and the ergonovine group, which comprises mono acid amides of d-lysergic acid.

Study at a glance

Abstract

STOLL1studied the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) in both psychotic and normal subjects. Condrau2and others reported their results of administration of lysergic acid diethylamide to various types of subjects and in general confirmed the findings of Stoll. For details of the chemistry of the ergot alkaloids, we refer to a more recent, comprehensive work by Stoll.3It should be mentioned in passing that all lysergic acid alkaloids have lysergic acid as a base. This substance is a multiple, active, polycyclic, nitrogenous carboxylic acid, which so far has not been synthesized. The natural ergot alkaloids containd-lysergic acid and may be divided into two groups— the ergotamine-ergotoxine group, on the one hand, and the ergonovine group, on the other. In the former groupd-lysergic acid is combined with a manifold peptid, whereas the latter group comprises the mono acid amides of thed