Effects of psilocybin on body weight, body composition, and metabolites in male and female mice.
Jasmine Shakir, Megan Pedicini, Brianna C Bullock, Penn W Hoen, Lindsey K Macias, Jackson Freiman, Mikhail V Pletnikov, Kellie L K Tamashiro, Zachary A. Cordner
Physiology & Behavior October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114627 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Lean male and female wild-type mice |
| Interventions | Psilocybin Ketanserin |
| Dose | single intraperitoneal dose |
| Duration | Days immediately following treatment |
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Body composition Body weight Ketanserin Metabolism Metabolic effects Animal studies Psilocybin research Psychedelic medicine |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key points | A single dose of psilocybin increased body weight and lean mass in mice without altering food intake or output, an effect not blocked by ketanserin. |
Abstract
There is growing interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for the treatment of a wide variety of medical problems, and even for the promotion of wellbeing among healthy individuals. Interestingly, among the many proposed indications, both obesity and anorexia nervosa (AN) have been discussed. However, the effect of psilocybin on appetitive behavior and metabolism is not well known. Here, we report the effects of psilocybin on body weight, intake and output, body composition, and metabolic function among lean male and female wild-type mice. In the days immediately following treatment, both male and female mice receiving a single intraperitoneal dose of psilocybin were consistently heavier than saline controls, with no effect of psilocybin on intake or output. Co-administration of the 5-HT2A/2C receptor antagonist ketanserin had no effect on this outcome. Body composition analysis revealed that psilocybin significantly increased lean and water mass among males, with a similar trend among females. A metabolic panel revealed increased creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and chloride among male and female psilocybin treated mice. Together, these findings begin to investigate the potential mechanisms of psilocybin's effects on body weight and metabolic measures. Such understanding will be critical for the safe, efficacious, and well-informed use of psilocybin in clinical and non-clinical settings.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin induces rapid and persistent growth of dendritic spines in frontal cortex in vivo Mice | 2021 | Observational cohort | |
| Harnessing psilocybin: antidepressant-like behavioral and synaptic actions of psilocybin are independent of 5-HT2R activation in mice Mice | 2021 | Experimental study | |
| Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period Mice | 2023 | Experimental study in mice | |
| Correlation between the potency of hallucinogens in the mouse head-twitch response assay and their behavioral and subjective effects in other species. C57BL/6J mice | 2020 | Experimental study with dose-response experiments | |
| Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning Mice | 2013 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Separate or inseparable? Serotonin and dopamine system interactions may underlie the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for anorexia nervosa Physiology & Behavior May 20, 2025
- Low, non-psychedelic doses of psilocybin as a novel treatment for MASLD, obesity and type 2 diabetes via 5-HT2B receptor-dependent mechanisms Pharmacological Research December 29, 2025
- The effect of psychedelic microdosing on animal behavior: A review with recommendations for the field Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 9, 2025
- Is there a place for psychedelics in sports practice? Acta Neuropsychiatrica 2025
- Effects of a single dose of psilocybin on diet-induced weight loss in obese mice. Translational Psychiatry April 14, 2026
Cites 10
- Harnessing psilocybin: antidepressant-like behavioral and synaptic actions of psilocybin are independent of 5-HT2R activation in mice Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences April 13, 2021
- Study Protocol for “Psilocybin as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study” Frontiers in Psychiatry October 20, 2021
- Associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and markers of physical health Journal of Psychopharmacology March 9, 2021
- Low Doses of Psilocybin and Ketamine Enhance Motivation and Attention in Poor Performing Rats: Evidence for an Antidepressant Property Frontiers in Pharmacology February 26, 2021
- Rethinking Therapeutic Strategies for Anorexia Nervosa: Insights From Psychedelic Medicine and Animal Models Frontiers in Neuroscience February 4, 2020
and 5 more in the library