Neuroimaging of Serotonergic and Psychedelic Agonist Drug Challenges in Non-Human Primates
Ande Bagdasarian, Kristian Larsen, Patrick M. Fisher, Hanne D. Hansen, Hsiao‐ying Wey
Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition November 26, 2024 DOI: 10.58530/2024/1133 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsilocybin and lisuride produce a two-phase (bi-phasic) change in cerebral blood volume, while 25CN-NBOH produces a single-phase (monophasic) response. The bi-phasic pattern may stem from the non-selectivity of psilocybin and lisuride. Higher doses of psilocybin cause elevated cerebral blood volume that persists over time, whereas the effects of lisuride and 25CN-NBOH return toward baseline. These findings highlight the sensitivity of pharmacological MRI for evaluating drug effects on brain hemodynamics.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Non-human primates |
| Interventions | Psilocybin Lisuride 25CN-NBOH |
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Keywords | Agonist Neuroimaging Neuroscience Computer science |
| Key finding | Psilocybin and lisuride induce bi-phasic hemodynamic responses, while 25CN-NBOH produces a monophasic response; bi-phasic patterns may reflect non-selective drug targeting. |
Abstract
Motivation: Acute effects of psychedelic drugs are under-reported in neuroimaging studies, warranting further investigation of their immediate pharmacology to explore the potential to monitor treatment response with imaging. Goal(s): Our goal was to assess acute impacts of serotonergic (psychedelic and non-psychedelic) agonists on hemodynamics in non-human primates (NHP). Approach: Pharmacological-MRI (phMRI) was used to measure cerebral blood volume (CBV) changes by psilocybin, lisuride and 25CN-NBOH. Results: Psilocybin and lisuride induced bi-phasic hemodynamic response, whereas 25CN-NBOH was monophasic. Bi-phasic phenomena may be due to non-selectivity of agonist drugs. Elevated CBV at higher psilocybin doses persists longitudinally, while lisuride and 25CN-NBOH modulations trend toward baseline. Impact: Bi-phasic signal profiles and downstream impacts to cerebral hemodynamics may reflect non-selective targeting of psilocybin and lisuride, highlighting the sensitivity of phMRI in drug evaluation.