Neurochemical and Neuroendocrine Effects of Ibogaine in Rats: Comparison to MK-801.
Michael H. Baumann, Richard B Rothman, Syed F. Ali
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences May 1, 1998 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb08240.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical drug study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Male rats |
| Interventions | Ibogaine MK-801 |
| Dose | 10 & 100 mg/kg ibogaine; 0.1 & 1.0 mg/kg MK-801 |
| Duration | 30 and 60 minutes after injection |
| Topics | Ibogaine |
| Keywords | Ibogaine: natural compound Ibogaine's effects Its action Mechanism Neuroendocrine function Plasma prolactin Corticosterone Brain dopamine levels Distinct pattern Compared Known drug Mk-801 Measured |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key points | Ibogaine's effects on neuroendocrine function and dopamine transmission in rats differ from MK-801, indicating its in vivo mechanism is not simply NMDA receptor antagonism. |
Abstract
Ibogaine (IBO) is a naturally-occurring indole compound that is being evaluated as a potential medication for substance use disorders. Although the precise mechanism of IBO action is unclear, recent in vitro data show this drug displays properties similar to the noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist MK-801. The purpose of the present work was to compare In Vivo neurobiological effects of IBO and MK-801 in rats. Groups of male rats (n = 6-8/group) were decapitated 30 and 60 min after receiving intraperitoneal (i.p.) IBO (10 & 100 mg/kg), MK-801 (0.1 & 1.0 mg/kg) or vehicle. Trunk blood was collected for the analysis of plasma prolactin and corticosterone; brains were harvested and dissected for determination of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites. Both IBO and MK-801 increased corticosterone secretion, but only IBO elevated plasma prolactin. IBO produced dramatic reductions in tissue DA levels with concurrent increases in the metabolites, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA). This profile of IBO-induced changes in DA transmission was observed in the striatum, olfactory tubercle, and hypothalamus. The effects of MK-801 on DA metabolism did not mimic IBO, as MK-801 tended to increase DA and its metabolites. Neither drug appreciably affected 5-HT systems. Our results suggest that the effects of IBO on neuroendocrine function and DA transmission are not due to MK-801-like properties of IBO. Thus, the In Vivo mechanism of IBO action cannot be explained simply on the basis of antagonism at NMDA receptors.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ibogaine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noncompetitive Functional Inhibition at Diverse, Human Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Subtypes by Bupropion, Phencyclidine, and Ibogaine TE671/RD cells (human muscle-type nAChR) and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells (human... | 1999 | In vitro study | |
| Degeneration of Purkinje cells in parasagittal zones of the cerebellar vermis after treatment with ibogaine or harmaline. Ibogaine- or harmaline-treated rats | 1993 | Experimental animal study | |
| Effects and aftereffects of ibogaine on morphine self-administration in rats. Rats | 1991 | Preclinical experimental study | |
| Effects of iboga alkaloids on morphine and cocaine self-administration in rats: relationship to tremorigenic effects and to effects on dopamine release in nucleus accumbens and striatum. Rats | 1994 | Experimental study | |
| Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Mediates the Desirable Actions of the Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine against Alcohol Consumption Rats | 2005 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Main targets of ibogaine and noribogaine associated with its putative anti-addictive effects: A mechanistic overview. Journal of Psychopharmacology December 1, 2023
- Ibogaine and Noribogaine: Comparing Parent Compound to Metabolite CNS Drug Reviews September 1, 2000
- A Systematic Review of the efficacy, safety, and Tolerability of Psychedelics in the Treatment of post-traumatic Stress Disorder Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry December 26, 2025
- Thirty Years of Ibogaine Research: A Literature Review on Clinical Perspectives. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Cites 26
- Degeneration of Purkinje cells in parasagittal zones of the cerebellar vermis after treatment with ibogaine or harmaline. Neuroscience July 1, 1993
- Effects and aftereffects of ibogaine on morphine self-administration in rats. European Journal of Pharmacology April 3, 1991
- Effects of iboga alkaloids on morphine and cocaine self-administration in rats: relationship to tremorigenic effects and to effects on dopamine release in nucleus accumbens and striatum. Brain Research September 19, 1994
- Inhibitory effects of ibogaine on cocaine self-administration in rats. European Journal of Pharmacology September 14, 1993
- A preliminary investigation of ibogaine: case reports and recommendations for further study. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 1994
and 21 more in the library