Unraveling psilocybin's therapeutic potential: behavioral and neuroplasticity insights in Wistar-Kyoto and Wistar male rat models of treatment-resistant depression.
Psychopharmacology July 4, 2024 Magdalena Kolasa, Agnieszka Nikiforuk, Agata Korlatowicz et al. 18 citations
Psilocybin shows pronounced antidepressant and pro-social effects in both Wistar-Kyoto rats, which model treatment-resistant depression, and normal Wistar rats, but with distinct time courses. The study found behavioral differences between the strains, including passive behavior and social withdrawal in Wistar-Kyoto rats. Psilocybin modulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling differently in each strain and altered activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein expression specifically in Wistar-Kyoto rats. These strain-specific neuroplasticity changes offer insights into the mechanisms behind psilocybin's efficacy in treatment-resistant depression.