Annu Rev Physiol
November 6, 2023
Cassandra J. Hatzipantelis, David E. Olson
28 citations
A single dose of a psychedelic can rapidly alter subjective experience and produce lasting changes in brain circuits related to mood, fear, reward, and cognitive flexibility. These effects stem from psychedelics interacting with key neuroreceptors across the brain, activating signaling cascades that change neuronal structure and function. The acute effects involve serotonergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, while long-lasting effects involve structural and functional neuroplasticity in the cortex. The neurobiological changes behind acute and sustained effects may be distinct, offering opportunities to engineer compounds with improved safety and efficacy.
Nature Communications
September 30, 2025
Cassandra J. Hatzipantelis, Min Liu, A. H. G. Love et al.
2 citations
Psilocybin, which increases social connectedness and shows promise for treating mental illness, was tested in a mouse model of peripartum mood disorders. Social stress caused maternal withdrawal and increased stress-related behaviors, and psilocybin did not alleviate these effects. Weeks later, psilocybin-treated mothers were more anxious, regardless of prior stress exposure, while virgin females were unaffected. Reproductive status did not alter psilocybin metabolism, but serotonin receptor transcription and 5-HT2A receptor-dependent responses were reduced in mothers. Offspring exposed to psilocybin through breastfeeding showed anhedonia in adulthood. The findings indicate that both parous parents and their children may be uniquely vulnerable to psychedelic treatment during the postpartum period.
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
August 1, 2025
Cassandra J. Hatzipantelis, David E. Olson, Danielle S. Stolzenberg
In a mouse model of peripartum mood disorder, a single dose of psilocybin did not improve impaired caregiving, maternal withdrawal, or anxiety-like behaviors; treated dams were more anxious and had increased risk of overall behavioral impairments two weeks after injection. In contrast, virgin female mice given the same dose showed reduced anxiety and lower risk of behavioral impairments. Additionally, a single postnatal exposure to psilocybin through breastmilk increased the risk of behavioral phenotypes related to mood and sociability disorders in both male and female offspring when they reached adulthood. These findings suggest psilocybin may pose risks during the postpartum period for mothers and their offspring.