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BAS (1-Benzyl-2-methyl-5-methoxy tryptamine) was synthesized by D. W. Wooley of the Rockefeller'Institute. He found that It was an effective anti-serotonin when tested against carotld artery rlngs In vitro. He also found that BAS blocked the blood pressure elevation resulting from Intravenous administratlon of LSD In dogs. Wilkins, In Boston, studied the effects of BAS as an antihypertenslve agent. He found that it did cause slaniflcant reductlon In blood pressure of bypertenslves, and that, when admlnisfered chronically In doses ranglng between 40-l60 mg. daily Itotal dosel, It Induced effects. resembling those caused by reserpine ("intolerable" sedatlon, snuffy nose, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc.l.

Our experiments were carrled out in order to study the effects of an acute or subacute administration of BAS In human subjects, and were oreliminary to experiments In which the substance would be used In an effort to block the LSD reaction lsee other report).

Subiects used were ell former morphine addicts who had been withdrawn from oplates and had been abstinent from that drug for a period of at least fhree months. All were Negroes ranging in age from 2l-40 years. All were In an excellent stafe of physlcal heaith, and none had any evidence of a major psychosis.

EFFECTS OF ACUTE ADMINIS TRATION OF BAS IN MAN

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BAS was administered orally. Single doses, ranging between 5-4C0 mg. whlch were Increased gradualiy In step-wise fashlon between experiments, caused no significant effeets during the first 8 hours after administratlon. However, after the higher doses patlents began to report the development of effects occurrIng. 12-l6 hours after taking the drug. These effects lncluded dizzlness, feelings of fatigue, nausee, and dlarrhea. The observatlon schedule was accordingly changed and patlents were studled from the 12th to the 20th hour after oral admtnistratlon of 400 mg. of the drug. No slgnificant effects on femperature, puise, respiratory rate, resting blood pressure, puplllary stze, or kneejerks were observed, although many of the patients did report faflgue, mental depression, and nausea.

Effects of repeated administration of doses of 150- 200 mg. were then studied. Drugs were glven at elght-hour Intervals. No objective effects and no subjectlve reports occurred after the first two doses. After the third dose, hewevery. patlents began to report weakness,.fatigue, dizziness, mental dullness, nausea, and diarrhes. These effects perslsted for two to three days after fhe drug was discontinued. No objectlve changes were cbserved on puplllary size, reflexes, resting blood pressure, temperature, pulse, or resplratory rate.

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Discusslon. In large doses, BAS induces marked subjective effects without any grzat objective change. It Is not clear how these effeets are produced; they could elther be central or peripheral. It should be noted, however, that although BAS 1s a powerful anti-serotonln (as Is LSD) no symptoms resembling those seen after LSD were, observed.