Serotonergic hallucinogens as translational models relevant to schizophrenia
Adam L. Halberstadt, Mark A. Geyer
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology August 13, 2013 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145713000722 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | LSD Mescaline Psilocybin Serotonin |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Schizophrenia object-oriented programming Neurochemical Psychosis Receptor |
| Citations | 66 |
| Key findings | Animal models of schizophrenia based on serotonergic hallucinogens have yielded insights into the linkage between 5-HT and schizophrenia and identified receptor targets for new therapeutic agents. |
Abstract
Abstract One of the oldest models of schizophrenia is based on the effects of serotonergic hallucinogens such as mescaline, psilocybin, and (+)-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), which act through the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. These compounds produce a ‘model psychosis’ in normal individuals that resembles at least some of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Based on these similarities, and because evidence has emerged that the serotonergic system plays a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia in some patients, animal models relevant to schizophrenia have been developed based on hallucinogen effects. Here we review the behavioural effects of hallucinogens in four of those models, the receptor and neurochemical mechanisms for the effects and their translational relevance. Despite the difficulty of modelling hallucinogen effects in nonverbal species, animal models of schizophrenia based on hallucinogens have yielded important insights into the linkage between 5-HT and schizophrenia and have helped to identify receptor targets and interactions that could be exploited in the development of new therapeutic agents.