Ayahuasca Mitigates Morphological Cortical Alterations in Juvenile Non-human Primates Following Chronic Stress Exposure
Expedito Do Nascimento Júnior, Luiz Pereira, Wigínio Lira-Bandeira, Andréa Medeiros Bandeira, Lílian Carlos De Mendonça, Fernando Lobo Ladd, Maria Porpino de Meiroz Grilo, Jeferson Cavalcante, Nicole Galvão-Coelho
Research Square March 5, 2025 preprint DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5960718/v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled experiment |
|---|---|
| Population | Juvenile non-human primates |
| Intervention | Ayahuasca |
| Topics | Ayahuasca |
| Key findings | Ayahuasca treatment before and during chronic social isolation prevented the reduction in neuronal volume in the somatosensory cortex that occurred in isolated monkeys, indicating a prophylactic effect against stress-induced cortical atrophy. |
Abstract
Abstract Depression remains a debilitating mental health disorder affecting millions worldwide, with growing prevalence among adolescents. Recent studies highlight the critical role of the somatosensory cortex in the neuropathology of depression, including structural alterations that impair cortical function. This study investigates the prophylactic effects of ayahuasca, a traditional psychoactive brew, on morphological changes in the somatosensory cortex induced by chronic stress in juvenile non-human primates. Using a model of social isolation to simulate chronic stress, we employed stereological techniques to assess neuronal volume, density, and cortical organization in three groups: a family group (FG), an isolated group (IG), and an ayahuasca-treated group (AG). Ayahuasca was administered before and during the isolation period. Results revealed a significant reduction in neuronal volume in the IG group compared to the FG group, while the AG group exhibited neuronal volumes comparable to FG, suggesting a prophylactic effect of ayahuasca. Although differences in neuronal density and cortical volume could not be statistically confirmed, trends indicated potential preservation of cortical structure in the AG group. These findings underscore ayahuasca’s potential to mitigate stress-induced cortical atrophy and highlight its influence on neural plasticity. Future research should expand sample sizes, incorporate female subjects, and investigate molecular mechanisms underlying these structural changes. This work provides a foundation for exploring ayahuasca as a novel therapeutic strategy for stress-related psychiatric disorders, particularly in adolescent populations.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ayahuasca, most cited first.