Psilocybin lacks antidepressant-like effect in the Flinders Sensitive Line rat

Oskar Jefsen; Kristoffer Højgaard; Sofie Laage Christiansen; Betina Elfving; David John Nutt; Gregers Wegener; Heidi Kaastrup Müller

doi:10.1017/neu.2019.15

Psilocybin lacks antidepressant-like effect in the Flinders Sensitive Line rat

Oskar Jefsen, Kristoffer Højgaard, Sofie Laage Christiansen, Betina Elfving, David John Nutt, Gregers Wegener, Heidi Kaastrup Müller

Department of Clinical Medicine - Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Psilocybin is a serotonin receptor agonist with a therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant depression and other psychiatric illnesses. We investigated whether the administration of psilocybin had an antidepressant-like effect in a rat model of depression.

METHODS: Using the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat model of depression, we assessed the antidepressant-like effect of psilocin and psilocybin, measured as a reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test (FST). We measured locomotor activity in an open field test (OFT) to control for stimulant properties of the drugs. We performed a set of experiments to test different doses, treatment paradigms, and timing of the tests in relation to the drug administration.

RESULTS: Psilocin and psilocybin showed no effect on immobility, struggling, or swimming behaviour in the FST and no effect on locomotor activity in the OFT. FSL rats did show significantly more immobility than their control strain, the Flinders Resistant Line, as expected.

CONCLUSION: Psilocin and psilocybin showed no antidepressant-like effect in the FSL rats, despite a positive effect in humans. This suggests that other animal models of depression and other behavioural tests may be more appropriate for translational studies in the effects of psilocybin.

Original language	English
Journal	Acta Neuropsychiatrica
Volume	31
Issue	4
Pages (from-to)	213-219
Number of pages	7
ISSN	0924-2708
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/neu.2019.15
Publication status	Published - Aug 2019

Keywords

antidepressive agents
hallucinogens
preclinical drug evaluation
psilocybin

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10.1017/neu.2019.15

SCNP - 2018
Jefsen, O. H. (Participant)
11 Apr 2018 → 13 Apr 2018
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organisation af a conference
1st Annual Research Meeting
Jefsen, O. H. (Participant)
14 Nov 2017
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organisation af a conference

Cite this

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title = "Psilocybin lacks antidepressant-like effect in the Flinders Sensitive Line rat",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: Psilocybin is a serotonin receptor agonist with a therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant depression and other psychiatric illnesses. We investigated whether the administration of psilocybin had an antidepressant-like effect in a rat model of depression.METHODS: Using the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat model of depression, we assessed the antidepressant-like effect of psilocin and psilocybin, measured as a reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test (FST). We measured locomotor activity in an open field test (OFT) to control for stimulant properties of the drugs. We performed a set of experiments to test different doses, treatment paradigms, and timing of the tests in relation to the drug administration.RESULTS: Psilocin and psilocybin showed no effect on immobility, struggling, or swimming behaviour in the FST and no effect on locomotor activity in the OFT. FSL rats did show significantly more immobility than their control strain, the Flinders Resistant Line, as expected.CONCLUSION: Psilocin and psilocybin showed no antidepressant-like effect in the FSL rats, despite a positive effect in humans. This suggests that other animal models of depression and other behavioural tests may be more appropriate for translational studies in the effects of psilocybin.",

keywords = "antidepressive agents, hallucinogens, preclinical drug evaluation, psilocybin",

author = "Oskar Jefsen and Kristoffer H{\o}jgaard and Christiansen, {Sofie Laage} and Betina Elfving and Nutt, {David John} and Gregers Wegener and M{\"u}ller, {Heidi Kaastrup}",

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language = "English",

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AU - Jefsen, Oskar

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AU - Christiansen, Sofie Laage

AU - Elfving, Betina

AU - Nutt, David John

AU - Wegener, Gregers

AU - Müller, Heidi Kaastrup

PY - 2019/8

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N2 - OBJECTIVE: Psilocybin is a serotonin receptor agonist with a therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant depression and other psychiatric illnesses. We investigated whether the administration of psilocybin had an antidepressant-like effect in a rat model of depression.METHODS: Using the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat model of depression, we assessed the antidepressant-like effect of psilocin and psilocybin, measured as a reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test (FST). We measured locomotor activity in an open field test (OFT) to control for stimulant properties of the drugs. We performed a set of experiments to test different doses, treatment paradigms, and timing of the tests in relation to the drug administration.RESULTS: Psilocin and psilocybin showed no effect on immobility, struggling, or swimming behaviour in the FST and no effect on locomotor activity in the OFT. FSL rats did show significantly more immobility than their control strain, the Flinders Resistant Line, as expected.CONCLUSION: Psilocin and psilocybin showed no antidepressant-like effect in the FSL rats, despite a positive effect in humans. This suggests that other animal models of depression and other behavioural tests may be more appropriate for translational studies in the effects of psilocybin.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Psilocybin is a serotonin receptor agonist with a therapeutic potential for treatment-resistant depression and other psychiatric illnesses. We investigated whether the administration of psilocybin had an antidepressant-like effect in a rat model of depression.METHODS: Using the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat model of depression, we assessed the antidepressant-like effect of psilocin and psilocybin, measured as a reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test (FST). We measured locomotor activity in an open field test (OFT) to control for stimulant properties of the drugs. We performed a set of experiments to test different doses, treatment paradigms, and timing of the tests in relation to the drug administration.RESULTS: Psilocin and psilocybin showed no effect on immobility, struggling, or swimming behaviour in the FST and no effect on locomotor activity in the OFT. FSL rats did show significantly more immobility than their control strain, the Flinders Resistant Line, as expected.CONCLUSION: Psilocin and psilocybin showed no antidepressant-like effect in the FSL rats, despite a positive effect in humans. This suggests that other animal models of depression and other behavioural tests may be more appropriate for translational studies in the effects of psilocybin.

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KW - hallucinogens

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DO - 10.1017/neu.2019.15

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JO - Acta Neuropsychiatrica

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Psilocybin lacks antidepressant-like effect in the Flinders Sensitive Line rat

Abstract

Keywords

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SCNP - 2018

1st Annual Research Meeting

Cite this