Frontiers in pharmacology
January 1, 2019
Soledad Marton, Bruno González, Sebastián Rodríguez-bottero et al.
71 citations
A single injection of ibogaine in rats increased the expression of neurotrophic factors in brain regions containing dopamine neurons, with effects depending on dose and brain area. At 24 hours, the higher dose (40 mg/kg) selectively raised GDNF in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra, while both doses boosted BDNF transcripts in the nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra, and prefrontal cortex. NGF mRNA increased across all regions after the higher dose. Protein levels showed GDNF rise only in the ventral tegmental area at the higher dose, and proBDNF increased in the nucleus accumbens for both doses. These changes may help explain ibogaine's reported ability to reduce drug-seeking behavior.
Frontiers in pharmacology
January 1, 2018
Joaquín González, José P Prieto, Paola Rodríguez et al.
31 citations
Ibogaine, a psychedelic alkaloid with anti-addictive properties, acutely increases wakefulness and suppresses REM sleep in rats. In a study with polysomnographic recordings over six hours, rats given ibogaine (20 or 40 mg/kg) spent more time awake and less time in slow wave sleep and REM sleep compared to controls. REM sleep latency increased with the higher dose. The wake-promoting and slow wave sleep effects occurred in the first two hours, while REM suppression lasted throughout the recording. Lower doses increased locomotion; higher doses caused tremor and flat body posture. Head shake response, linked to 5HT2A receptor activation, was unchanged. The findings suggest ibogaine produces a waking state with prolonged REM suppression and a dose-dependent motor profile.
Psychopharmacology
July 1, 2024
Juan Pedro Castro-Nin, Diego Serantes, Paola Rodríguez et al.
4 citations
Noribogaine, the main metabolite of the psychedelic ibogaine, promotes wakefulness while reducing slow-wave sleep and blocking REM sleep in rats, according to polysomnographic recordings. This pattern of sleep/wake alterations is similar to that previously reported for ibogaine itself. The findings provide new evidence on how iboga alkaloids act in the brain, suggesting that noribogaine contributes to the sleep-suppressing effects observed after ibogaine administration.