Age- and estrous-dependent effects of psilocybin in rats
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) January 14, 2025 Alexia L. Zylko, Ryan J. Rakoczy, Brianna F Roberts et al. preprint
Psilocybin, the psychedelic compound in magic mushrooms, produced head twitch responses in adult rats but not in adolescent rats. Adult female rats in diestrus showed more head twitches after psilocybin than those in proestrus, indicating that hormonal phase influences the response. Adolescent exposure to psilocybin did not cause lasting changes in anxiety-like behavior or behavioral flexibility. No age- or estrous-related differences were found in 5-HT2A receptor expression in the medial prefrontal cortex. These results show age- and sex-dependent differences in psychedelic effects and emphasize the need for inclusive research that accounts for age, sex, and hormonal status.