Abstract Background Ayahuasca, a psychoactive Amazonian preparation, is increasingly studied for substance-use disorders. Objectives Investigate whether oral lyophilised-ayahuasca attenuates ethanol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in mice and alters ΔFosB expression in nucleus accumbens (NAc). Methods Male Swiss mice received water or ayahuasca (130-1950 mg/kg, p.o.) 30 min before...
The relationship between serotonin dysfunction and schizophrenia commenced with the discovery of the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) that has high affinity for 5-HT2A receptors. Activation of these receptors produces perceptual and behavioural changes such as illusions, visual hallucinations and locomotor hyperactivity. Using prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle, which...
RationaleAccumulating evidence suggests that ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage used in traditional Amazonian communities for ritualistic and curative purposes, has been associated with reduced rates of substance use disorders. However, the brain mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ayahuasca have not yet been fully elucidated.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to...