Psilocybin does not induce the vulnerability marker HSP70 in neurons susceptible to Olney’s lesions
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience November 7, 2023 Ana-Maria Iorgu, Andrei-Nicolae Vasilescu, Natascha Pfeiffer et al. 2 citations
Psilocybin, unlike S-ketamine and MK-801, does not induce neuronal damage in the retrosplenial cortex of rats. Both S-ketamine and psilocybin are rapid-acting antidepressants that increase glutamate signalling and cortical hyperexcitation, but S-ketamine is known to cause neurotoxicity (Olney's lesions) in the retrosplenial cortex. Using immunohistochemical whole-brain mapping for heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in rats, no HSP70-positive neurons were detected in the retrosplenial cortex of psilocybin-treated animals, whereas S-ketamine and MK-801 produced such markers. This suggests psilocybin may be safer for clinical use regarding neuronal damage.