Unconditioned Behavioral Effects of the Powerful -Opioid Hallucinogen Salvinorin A in Nonhuman Primates: Fast Onset and Entry into Cerebrospinal Fluid

Abstract

ABSTRACT Salvinorin A is the main active component of the widely available hallucinogenic plant, Salvia divinorum. Salvinorin A is a selective high-efficacy -agonist in vitro, with some unique pharmacodynamic properties. Descriptive reports show that salvinorin A-containing products produce robust behavioral effects in humans. However, these effects have not been systematically characterized in human or nonhuman primates to date. Therefore, the present studies focused on the characterization of overt effects of salvinorin A, such as sedation (operationally defined as unresponsiveness to environmental stimuli) and postural relaxation, previously observed with centrally penetrating -agonists in nonhuman primates. Salvinorin A was active in these endpoints (dose range, 0.01-