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Ayahuasca, a psychedelic beverage, modulates neuroplasticity induced by ethanol in mice

Carolina Aparecida Faria Almeida, Antônio Alves Pereira-Júnior, Jéssica Gonçalves Rangel, Bruna Pinheiro Pereira, Karla Cristinne Mancini Costa, Vítor Bruno, Gabriela de Oliveira Silveira, Carla S. Ceron, Maurı́cio Yonamine, Rosana Camarini, Raphael Caio Tamborelli Garcia, Tânia Marcourakis, Larissa Helena Torres

Behavioural Brain Research August 23, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113546 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Animal study Peer reviewed
Population Swiss mice
Intervention Ayahuasca
Dose 1.76 mg/kg of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
Duration Eight consecutive days of daily ayahuasca treatment; ethanol injections every other day across nine days (D1, D3, D5, D7, D9)
Topics Ayahuasca Neuroplasticity
Keywords Dynorphin Striatum Pharmacology Ethanol Dopamine Hippocampus Endocrinology Κ-opioid receptor
Citations 33
Key points Ayahuasca attenuated ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization and reduced anxiogenic responses to ethanol withdrawal in mice.

Abstract

Alcohol use disorder needs more effective treatments because relapse rates remain high. Psychedelics, such as ayahuasca, have been used to treat substance use disorders. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of ayahuasca on ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization (EIBS). Swiss mice received 2.2 g/kg ethanol or saline IP injections every other day across nine days (D1, D3, D5, D7, and D9), and locomotor activity was evaluated 10 min after each injection. Then, animals were treated daily with ayahuasca (corresponding to 1.76 mg/kg of N,N-dimethyltryptamine, DMT) or water by oral gavage for eight consecutive days. On the seventh day, mice were evaluated in the elevated plus maze. Then, mice were challenged with a single dose of ethanol to measure their locomotor activity. Dopamine receptors, serotonin receptors, dynorphin, and prodynorphin levels were quantified in the striatum and hippocampus by blot analysis. Repeated ethanol administration resulted in EIBS. However, those animals treated with ayahuasca had an attenuated EIBS. Moreover, ayahuasca reduced the anxiogenic response to ethanol withdrawal and prevented the ethanol-induced changes on 5-HT1a receptor and prodynorphin levels in the hippocampus and reduced ethanol effects in the dynorphin/prodynorphin ratio levels in the striatum. These results suggest a potential application of ayahuasca to modulate the neuroplastic changes induced by ethanol.

Comparable studies

Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in South American hallucinogenic plants: Tryptamine and β-carboline constituents of Ayahuasca Eight ayahuasca samples from Peru and several Banisteriopsis caapi cultivars 1984 Qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis with in vitro assay
The alkaloids of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of the Amazonian hallucinogen Ayahuasca, stimulate adult neurogenesis in vitro Progenitor cells from subventricular and subgranular zones of adult mice brains 2017 In vitro experimental study
N,N-dimethyltryptamine compound found in the hallucinogenic tea ayahuasca, regulates adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo Mice 2020 In vitro and in vivo experimental study
Behavioural and neurotoxic effects of ayahuasca infusion (Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis) in female Wistar rat Female Wistar rats 2015 Observational cohort
Effects of ayahuasca on the development of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization and on a post-sensitization treatment in mice Mice 2015 Experimental study

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Ayahuasca Neuroplasticity 5-MeO-DMT Addiction Anxiety DMT Serotonin