Ayahuasca blocks the reinstatement of methylphenidate-induced conditioned place preference in mice: behavioral and brain Fos expression evaluations
Henrique Sousa Reis, Isa R S Rodrigues, Alexia Anjos-Santos, Matheus Libarino-Santos, Yasmim A. Serra, Elisangela Gouveia Cata-Preta, Daniella Oliveira-Campos, Natali D. Kisaki, Thaísa Barros-Santos, Thaís S. Yokoyama, Fábio Cardoso Cruz, Alexandre J. Oliveira-Lima, Paulo César Ribeiro Barbosa, Laís F. Berro, Eduardo A V Marinho
Psychopharmacology July 16, 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05609-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice |
| Interventions | Ayahuasca Methylphenidate |
| Dose | 100 mg/kg ayahuasca orally; 10 mg/kg methylphenidate i.p. |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Keywords | Methylphenidate Infralimbic cortex Ventral tegmental area Conditioned place preference Nucleus accumbens Basolateral amygdala Pharmacology Hallucinogen Dopamine Prefrontal cortex |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca treatment after conditioning with methylphenidate blocked the reinstatement of methylphenidate-induced conditioned place preference and generally reversed methylphenidate-induced changes in Fos expression in limbic brain regions. |
Abstract
RationaleAccumulating evidence suggests that ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage used in traditional Amazonian communities for ritualistic and curative purposes, has been associated with reduced rates of substance use disorders. However, the brain mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ayahuasca have not yet been fully elucidated.ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of treatment with ayahuasca on the rewarding properties of the psychostimulant methylphenidate.MethodsThe rewarding properties of ayahuasca (100 mg/kg, orally) and methylphenidate (10 mg/kg, i.p.) were investigated using the conditioned place preference (CPP) model. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of repeated treatment with ayahuasca on the reinstatement of methylphenidate-induced CPP. Fos expression was evaluated in different limbic structures (cingulate cortex-area 1, prelimbic cortex, infralimbic cortex, orbitofrontal cortex-lateral orbital area, nucleus accumbens core and shell, ventral tegmental area, dorsal striatum, and basolateral amygdala) upon each experimental phase.ResultsBoth ayahuasca and methylphenidate induced CPP in mice. However, ayahuasca had limited effects on Fos expression, while methylphenidate altered Fos expression in several brain regions associated with the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse. Treatment with ayahuasca after conditioning with methylphenidate blocked the reinstatement of methylphenidate-induced CPP. Those behavioral effects were accompanied by changes in Fos expression patterns, with ayahuasca generally blocking the changes in Fos expression induced by conditioning with methylphenidate and/or reexposure to methylphenidate.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that ayahuasca restored normal brain function in areas associated with the long-term expression of drug wanting/seeking in animals conditioned to methylphenidate.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
- Classic and non‐classic psychedelics for substance use disorder: A review of their historic, past and current research Addiction Neuroscience June 22, 2022
- Effects of ayahuasca and its alkaloids on substance use disorders: an updated (2016-2020) systematic review of preclinical and human studies. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience June 1, 2022
- Ayahuasca's therapeutic potential: What we know - and what not. European Neuropsychopharmacology 2023
- Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic aspects. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports December 1, 2023
- Role of 5-HT2A receptors in the effects of ayahuasca on ethanol self-administration using a two-bottle choice paradigm in male mice Psychopharmacology March 7, 2022
and 13 more in the library
Cites 13
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- Clinical investigations of the therapeutic potential of ayahuasca: rationale and regulatory challenges. Pharmacology & Therapeutics May 1, 2004
- Exploring the therapeutic potential of Ayahuasca: acute intake increases mindfulness-related capacities Psychopharmacology November 27, 2015
- Psychological and neuropsychological assessment of regular hoasca users. Comprehensive Psychiatry November 1, 2016
- Assessment of Alcohol and Tobacco Use Disorders Among Religious Users of Ayahuasca Frontiers in Psychiatry April 24, 2018
and 8 more in the library