Hallucinogens recruit specific cortical 5-HT(2A) receptor-mediated signaling pathways to affect behavior.
Javier González-Maeso, Noelia V Weisstaub, Mingming Zhou, Pokman Chan, Lidija Ivic, Rosalind L Ang, Alena Lira, Maria Bradley-Moore, Yongchao Ge, Qiang Zhou, Stuart C. Sealfon, Jay A Gingrich
Neuron February 1, 2007 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.01.008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Mice with genetically engineered cortical expression of 5-HT(2A) receptors |
| Key findings | Cortical 5-HT(2A) receptor signaling is sufficient for hallucinogen-induced behavioral responses. Hallucinogens like LSD, but not lisuride, engage pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i/o) proteins and Src in cortical neurons, distinguishing their signaling and behavioral effects. |
Abstract
Hallucinogens, including mescaline, psilocybin, and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), profoundly affect perception, cognition, and mood. All known drugs of this class are 5-HT(2A) receptor (2AR) agonists, yet closely related 2AR agonists such as lisuride lack comparable psychoactive properties. Why only certain 2AR agonists are hallucinogens and which neural circuits mediate their effects are poorly understood. By genetically expressing 2AR only in cortex, we show that 2AR-regulated pathways on cortical neurons are sufficient to mediate the signaling pattern and behavioral response to hallucinogens. Hallucinogenic and nonhallucinogenic 2AR agonists both regulate signaling in the same 2AR-expressing cortical neurons. However, the signaling and behavioral responses to the hallucinogens are distinct. While lisuride and LSD both act at 2AR expressed by cortex neurons to regulate phospholipase C, LSD responses also involve pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric G(i/o) proteins and Src. These studies identify the long-elusive neural and signaling mechanisms responsible for the unique effects of hallucinogens.