The Sex-Dependent Effects of Psychedelics on Myelination in APOE4 Mice
arXiv Preprint Archive June 16, 2025 Sanjana Shankar
Myelin abnormalities are linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, and psychedelics are being explored as potential treatments. A mutation in the APOE4 gene disrupts cholesterol regulation in oligodendrocytes, impairing myelination. This work investigates how the psychedelic compound DOI affects myelination in male and female APOE4 mice. Preliminary results show a significant increase in myelin basic protein (MBP) in the CA1 and CA2 brain regions of female APOE4 mice after DOI administration, correlating with reduced anxiety-related behaviors. No similar effect was observed in males. These findings reveal sex-specific biological mechanisms in brain degeneration and suggest potential for developing sex-specific therapeutics for myelin-related disorders.