Behavioral characterization of ayahuasca treatment on Wistar rats in the open field test
Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences January 1, 2022 Cid Pinheiro Farias, Paula Pólvora Victoria, Janaína Xavier et al. 2 citations
Ayahuasca, a psychedelic beverage with potential therapeutic effects for mood and anxiety disorders, was tested in Wistar rats using oral gavage and the open field test. Rats received doses of 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg or a control treatment. Ayahuasca did not interfere with habituation. The highest dose group spent less time in the center of the open field and made fewer crossings during the last 10 minutes of the 40-minute test, suggesting behavioral effects emerged only after 30 to 40 minutes. The findings highlight that observation timing, duration, and dosage are important factors in open field studies of ayahuasca's acute effects.