N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an Endogenous Hallucinogen: Past, Present, and Future Research to Determine Its Role and Function
This review (2018) presents the historical research into DMT, focussing on its biosynthesis, metabolism, sites of action, methods of detection, and potential physiological and therapeutic roles. The author proposes several areas for further research and highlights the need to resolve the role of endogenous DMT.
Abstract
This report provides a historical overview of research concerning the endogenous hallucinogen N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), focusing on data regarding its biosynthesis and metabolism in the brain and peripheral tissues, methods and results for DMT detection in body fluids and brain, new sites of action for DMT, and new data regarding its possible physiological and therapeutic roles. Research that further elaborates its consideration as a putative neurotransmitter is also addressed. Taking these studies together, the report proposes several new directions and experiments to ascertain the role of DMT in the brain, including brain mapping of enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of DMT, further studies to elaborate its presence and role in the pineal gland, a reconsideration of binding site data, and new administration and imaging studies. The need to resolve the “natural” role of an endogenous hallucinogen from the effects observed from peripheral administration are also emphasized.
Research Summary of 'N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an Endogenous Hallucinogen: Past, Present, and Future Research to Determine Its Role and Function'
Introduction
Mori and colleagues frame the review around a long-standing gap in understanding how hallucinogens alter perception and consciousness at a biochemical level. The introduction contrasts the dramatic subjective effects produced by exogenous psychedelics with ordinary regulated phenomena such as dreaming, creativity and near-death experiences, and argues that studying endogenous compounds that resemble administered hallucinogens may reveal mechanisms of normal and extraordinary conscious states. The discovery that N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) occurs naturally prompted renewed interest in whether it functions as an endogenous neuroregulator or neurotransmitter and whether its study could illuminate broader questions about perception and consciousness. The paper aims to synthesise historical and recent data on DMT: its biosynthesis and metabolism in brain and peripheral tissues, methods and results for detecting DMT in body fluids and brain, sites and mechanisms of action (including receptor targets), and possible physiological and therapeutic roles. It also sets out recommended future experiments to clarify DMT's normal role, such as detailed brain mapping of biosynthetic enzymes, evaluation of pineal involvement, improved analytical detection strategies, receptor-binding reassessment and new administration and imaging paradigms. The authors emphasise the importance of distinguishing the effects of peripherally administered, high-dose DMT from the putative physiological role of endogenously produced DMT.
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Barker, S. A. (2018). N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an Endogenous Hallucinogen: Past, Present, and Future Research to Determine Its Role and Function. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2018.00536
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