Exploring new frontiers: Effects of psychedelics on neurotransmitter‐regulated glucagon release in pancreatic islets
Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism – December 14, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT—three key compounds—are gaining significant attention in medicine and psychology. Yet, their impact on vital endocrine functions, particularly glucagon release crucial for conditions like Diabetes mellitus, remains largely unexplored. Understanding how these substances alter neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and biochemical processes is essential. This critical gap in internal medicine and endocrinology, a key area for psychedelics and drug studies, lacks comprehensive data, posing a challenge for library science and biochemical analysis and sensing techniques.
Abstract
Research on psychedelic substances such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is gaining momentum.1 However, the possible effects of these substances on systemic functions such as endocrine activity, particularly neurotransmitter-regulated glucagon release in pancreatic alpha cells, remain largely unexplored. This commentary aims to address the unprecedented subject of how psychedelics might alter neurotransmitter concentrations involved in both intra-islet and extra-islet signalling, thereby impacting glucagon release. [...]