Noribogaine acute administration in rats promotes wakefulness and suppresses REM sleep.

Summary

Intriguingly, a key metabolite of the psychedelic Ibogaine profoundly shifts brain activity during sleep. Researchers explored whether noribogaine, like Ibogaine, alters sleep. Using EEG recordings in rats, it was discovered that noribogaine strongly promotes wakefulness, significantly reduces slow-wave sleep, and blocks REM sleep. This finding clarifies how these compounds influence brain function, offering valuable insights into their therapeutic potential.

Abstract

Ibogaine is a potent atypical psychedelic that has gained considerable attention due to its antiaddictive and antidepressant properties in preclinical and clinical studies. Previous research from our group showed that ibogaine suppresses sleep and produces an altered wakefulness state, which resembles natural REM sleep. However, after systemic administration, ibogaine is rapidly metabolized to noribogaine, which also shows antiaddictive effects but with a distinct pharmacological profile, making this drug a promising therapeutic candidate. Therefore, we still ignore whether the sleep/wake alterations depend on ibogaine or its principal metabolite noribogaine. To answer this question, we conducted polysomnographic recordings in rats following the administration of pure noribogaine. Our results show that noribogaine promotes wakefulness while reducing slow-wave sleep and blocking REM sleep, similar to our previous results reported for ibogaine administration. Thus, we shed new evidence on the mechanisms by which iboga alkaloids work in the brain.

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