Veratramine-induced behavior associated with serotonergic hyperfunction in mice.

The administration of veratramine produced generalized tremor, myoclonus, hindlimb abduction, backward gait and Straub tail, similar to the "5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) syndrome", in mice. Pretreatment with metergoline, methysergide, mainserin or cyproheptadine ameliorated veratramine-induced myoclonus and tremor. For suppression of other symptoms, mianserin and cyproheptadine were effective. Metergoline improved hindlimb abduction and Straub tail, but did not inhibit backward gait. Methysergide was ineffective for the remaining symptoms. 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) enhanced all these symptoms except for Straub tail. 8-Hydroxy-2-[di-n-propylamino] tetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT) augmented tremor, hindlimb abduction and backward gait, but did not influence myoclonus and Straub tail. 5-Methoxy-3[1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-4-yl] 1H-indole (RU 24969) did not modify the symptoms. Destruction of 5-HT neurons using 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT) resulted in suppression of the syndrome. The denervation supersensitivity caused by 5,6-DHT did not increase the response to veratramine. These findings indicate that part of the site of action of veratramine may be the presynaptic 5-HT neurons.