Receptor binding profiles and behavioral effects of psilocybin analogs

Psilocybin is a natural psychedelic being studied for psychiatric disorders; its active form, psilocin, acts via 5-HT2A receptors. Several psilocybin analogs, like psilacetin, have emerged as new psychoactive substances. This study examined in vitro receptor affinities for a series of psilocybin analogs with different N-alkyl or 4-position substitutions, and in vivo head twitch responses (HTRs) in male C57BL/6J mice after psilocybin, psilacetin, or psilocin administration. All analogs showed low to mid nM affinities for 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors; non-serotonergic affinities were weaker. In mice, the potency order for HTRs was psilocin > psilacetin > psilocybin. HTRs from all three compounds (0.6 mg/kg) were blocked by the 5-HT2A antagonist M100907 (0.01 mg/kg), indicating 5-HT2A involvement. Psilacetin may be an alternative prodrug for psilocin with possible independent psychedelic activity.

Study at a glance

Abstract

4‐phosphorloxy‐ N,N ‐dimethyltryptamine (psilocybin) is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound that is being investigated in clinical studies in conjunction with psychotherapy for treatment of several psychiatric disorders. It is well established that 4‐hydroxy‐ N,N ‐dimethyltryptamine (psilocin) is the bioactive metabolite of psilocybin which mediates its in vivo psychedelic activity in humans and rodents (e.g., head twitch response) via agonist actions at 5‐HT 2A receptors. Several psilocybin analogs have emerged on recreational drug markets as new psychoactive substances (NPS), some of which are being investigated for their potential clinical utility in psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. For example, 4‐acetoxy‐ N,N ‐dimethyltrytpamine (psilacetin) is a psychedelic NPS that is hypothesized to be a prodrug which is metabolized to psilocin, similar to psilocybin. Little is known about the pharmacology of psilacetin and related psilocybin analogs, especially with regard to how differences in receptor activity profiles might modulate in vivo behavioral, physiological, and potential clinical effects. The present study investigated the in vitro receptor affinities for a series of psilocybin analogs with differing N ‐alkyl substitutions (dimethyl, dipropyl, methylallyl, or methylisopropyl) or 4‐position ring‐substitutions (hydroxy, acetoxy or methoxy). Additionally, in vivo dose‐response (0.03 – 3 mg/kg s.c.) and antagonist reversal experiments were conducted to examine head twitch responses (HTRs) in male C57BL/6J mice after administration of psilocybin, psilacetin, and psilocin. The in vitro receptor screening results revealed that all psilocybin analogs have low to mid nM affinities for 5‐HT 1A , 5‐HT 2A , 5‐HT 2B , and 5‐HT 2C subtypes, as well as other 5‐HT receptors. Non‐serotonergic targets included adrenergic, dopaminergic, histaminergic, and sigma receptor subtypes, and monoamine transporters (dopamine & serotonin). However, affinities for the non‐serotonergic sites were less consistent across the various compounds and much weaker when compared to activity at 5‐HT receptors. The in vivo mouse studies revealed that the rank order of potency to induce HTRs was psilocin > psilacetin > psilocybin, suggesting that psilacetin may indeed be converted to psilocin in vivo . Perhaps more importantly, psilacetin may have psychedelic activity on its own based on pharmacological screening data showing nM binding affinity to 5‐HT 2A receptors. The HTRs induced by psilocybin, psilocin, and psilacetin (all 0.6 mg/kg s.c.) were blocked by pretreatment with the 5‐HT 2A antagonist M100907 (0.01 mg/kg s.c.), indicating the involvement of 5‐HT 2A receptors. Taken together, our data provide key information about structure‐activity relationships for receptor binding profiles of psilocybin analogs and suggest that psilacetin may be an alternative prodrug for psilocin, with possible psychedelic activity of its own. Future studies comparing the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of psilocybin and psilacetin seem warranted to confirm the conversion of these parent compounds to psilocin in vivo .