Dynamic changes in prefrontal cortex gene expression following lysergic acid diethylamide administration
Molecular Brain Research March 1, 2003 Charles D. Nichols, Efrain E. Garcia, Elaine Sanders-Bush 1 citation
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) transiently alters perception, behavior, and mood at very low doses, and its acute effects resemble symptoms of schizophrenia. Analyzing gene expression after LSD exposure is key to understanding how it changes behavior and to gaining insights into disorders like schizophrenia. Previous work identified a set of genes in the rat prefrontal cortex involved in synaptic plasticity that respond to LSD. This report details their expression using RNase protection analysis, showing a dynamic response: some genes increase and decrease rapidly, others change more gradually. Dose-response studies reveal two expression classes—maximally stimulated at lower doses or continuing to rise at higher doses. Most increases depend on the 5-HT(2A) receptor, but two genes involve neither 5-HT(1A) nor 5-HT(2A) receptors.