Neurotoxicity Research
April 15, 2019
Monika Herian, Adam Wojtas, Katarzyna Kamińska et al.
44 citations
25I-NBOMe, a synthetic hallucinogen related to the 2C family, increases extracellular levels of dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate in the rat frontal cortex, as measured by microdialysis in freely moving animals. It also raises tissue content of serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA but does not affect tissue dopamine or its metabolites. The drug elicits head-twitch response in rats, a behavioral marker of hallucinogenic effect in humans. Dose-response curves were inverted U-shaped for dopamine and serotonin release, but U-shaped for glutamate release and head-twitch response. The findings suggest that the hallucinogenic activity of 25I-NBOMe is linked to increased extracellular glutamate mediated by cortical 5-HT2A receptors, with modulation by 5-HT2C and 5-HT1A receptors.
Neurotoxicity Research
July 26, 2016
Karolina Noworyta, Katarzyna Kamińska, Grzegorz Kreiner et al.
26 citations
The hallucinogen 5-MeO-DIPT ('foxy') increases dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate release in rat brain regions including the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex, with varying potency. It raises serotonin and lowers its metabolite 5-HIAA in tissue, likely by inhibiting the serotonin transporter. Decreases in dopamine and its metabolites suggest possible damage to dopamine terminals or adaptive changes in turnover. DNA strand breaks persisted for up to 60 days, indicating marked neurotoxicity. The drug also induced head-twitch responses and potentiated forepaw treading, suggesting its hallucinogenic effects involve stimulation of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors.
Pharmacological Reports
August 1, 2024
Maja Owe-Larsson, Katarzyna Kamińska, Barbara Buchalska et al.
11 citations
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects about 2% of the population and involves troubling obsessions and compulsions that disrupt daily life. Its causes are not fully understood, but dysfunctions in serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate neurotransmission, along with early maladaptive schemas, appear important. Current treatments include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), yet up to 40% of patients do not respond. Psilocybin, a non-physically addictive psychoactive substance, may help manage symptoms when used in appropriate doses under strict clinical control. This narrative article reviews OCD's etiology, current treatments, and emerging evidence for psilocybin's efficacy.
Journal of analytical toxicology
January 21, 2021
Katarzyna Kamińska, Paweł Świt, Kamilla Malek
9 citations
25I-NBOMe, a synthetic hallucinogen chemically related to mescaline and sold online as a legal alternative to LSD, acts as a potent serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist. Knowledge of its pharmacological properties remains limited, with few published in vivo and in vitro studies. A 2016 critical review reported 51 non-fatal intoxications and 21 deaths across Europe. Case reports describe toxic effects including tachycardia, hypertension, hallucinations, rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and death. The growing number of fatal and non-fatal intoxication cases indicates 25I-NBOMe poses a serious public health danger.
Biomedicines
July 6, 2026
Kasper Buczma, Katarzyna Kamińska, Kaja Kasarełło et al.
Psilocybin, a serotonergic hallucinogen, shows therapeutic promise for treatment-resistant depression, but its multi-organ safety profile remains unclear. This narrative review of preclinical studies, clinical data, and case reports found limited and heterogeneous evidence, with rare adverse events often confounded by polysubstance use and uncertain dosing. Biologically plausible mechanisms via serotonergic receptor activation warrant further investigation, yet controlled clinical data do not consistently indicate intrinsic multi-organ toxicity. The review highlights critical gaps in understanding psilocybin's organ-specific safety and calls for systematic evaluation.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry
June 20, 2026
Agnieszka Bysiek, Izabela Szpręgiel, Adam Wojtas et al.
Two doses of psilocybin (0.6 mg/kg, given subcutaneously seven days apart) reversed anhedonia, produced antidepressant-like effects in the forced swim test, and reduced anxiety in the light/dark box, elevated plus maze, and open field tests in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress. Psilocybin also increased hippocampal neurogenesis, shown by higher numbers of BrdU-positive, DCX-positive, and Ki-67-positive cells in stressed animals. Stress-induced reductions in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression appeared linked to normalization of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. The findings highlight psilocybin-induced neuroplasticity as a key mechanism for its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.
Pharmacological Reports
January 20, 2026
Piotr Olejnik, Katarzyna Kamińska, Krystyna Gołembiowska et al.
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen known for its effects on serotonin receptors, significantly reduced inflammation in a study involving 40 participants. The treatment lowered levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha by 30% and decreased hyperalgesia—a heightened pain response—by 25%. Utilizing both ex vivo and in vivo models, findings showed that psilocybin modulates microglial activity, impacting the immune system's response. These results suggest potential applications in internal medicine for managing neuroinflammation and pain mechanisms, highlighting the promise of psychedelics in pharmacology and analgesic therapies.