The establishment of stimulus control by 5-HTP, the amino acid precursor for serotonin (5-HT), has been reported previously [1-3]. In the present investigation, two groups of rats were trained with 5-HTP versus saline in a 2-lever discrimination procedure. Prior to the administration of 5-HTP, subjects were pretreated with either Ro 4-4602, an inhibitor of peripheral decarboxylase (R-HTP), or citalopram, a specific 5-HT reuptake inhibitor (C-HTP). Neither C-HTP nor R-HTP was antagonized completely by either pirenperone or pizotyline. When C-HTP and R-HTP were tested in a third group of rats trained with LSD, complete generalization was not observed. The results of cross tests in the R-HTP and C-HTP groups with LSD, TFMPP, 8-OH-DPAT, C-HTP, and R-HTP indicate that the stimuli induced by R-HTP and C-HTP are similar but not identical. Taken together, these data suggest that 5-HTP produces a compound stimulus that is not readily explained in terms of either 5-HT1 or 5-HT2 receptors alone.

• 03385/PHS HHS/United States