Ayahuasca Alters Structural Parameters of the Rat Aorta
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology February 25, 2015 Dimítrius Leonardo Pitol, Selma Siéssere, Rafael G. Dos Santos et al. 13 citations
Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic brew used by Amazonian indigenous groups, contains β-carbolines that inhibit monoamine oxidase and dimethyltryptamine, a serotonin receptor agonist. Acute administration causes moderate cardiovascular effects in healthy volunteers, but long-term effects are unknown. In rats, ayahuasca (2-4 mL/kg) flattened and stretched vascular smooth muscle cells and altered collagen and elastic fiber arrangement. Chronic high-dose treatment increased media thickness and the ratio of media thickness to lumen diameter in the aorta. More research on cardiovascular function in long-term ayahuasca consumers is needed.