The Relative Activities of Some Tryptamine Analogues on the Isolated Rat Stomach Strip Preparation

The relative potencies of analogues of tryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine have been determined on the rat fundus preparation. This tissue had an amine oxidase activity, which, in the homogenate, was able to inactivate both tryptamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine to about the same degree. Amine oxidase inhibitors potentiated the action of tryptamine and many analogues on the isolated rat fundus preparation, but not the action of 5-hydroxytryptamine or of other hydroxytryptamines. This suggested that, in the isolated organ, the amine oxidase was unable to inactivate 5-hydroxytryptamine, but could inactivate tryptamine, 5-methoxytryptamine and many others. These results may be explained if it is supposed that tryptamine entered the cell, but because of the polar hydroxyl group 5-hydroxytryptamine did not. This hypothesis is supported by the oil/water partition coefficients. The structure/activity of the various tryptamine derivatives is discussed in the light of this assumption.