Psilocybin prevents reinstatement of alcohol seeking by disrupting the reconsolidation of alcohol-related memories.
Saved in:
| Title: | Psilocybin prevents reinstatement of alcohol seeking by disrupting the reconsolidation of alcohol-related memories. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Benvenuti, F. (AUTHOR), Colombo, D. (AUTHOR), Soverchia, L. (AUTHOR), Cannella, N. (AUTHOR), Domi, E. (AUTHOR), Ciccocioppo, R. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Psychopharmacology. Jul2023, Vol. 240 Issue 7, p1521-1530. 10p. 4 Graphs. |
| Subjects: | United States. Food & Drug Administration, Psilocybin, Alcoholism, Alcohol drinking, Laboratory rats, Hallucinogenic drugs, Alcohol |
| Abstract: | Background: For most psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder (AUD), FDA-approved pharmacological treatments are limited and their efficacy is restricted to only certain subgroups of patients. Scientific interest in the potential of psychedelic drugs has dramatically increased because of clinical preliminary evidence of efficacy in treating various psychiatric disorders. One of the most promising compounds belonging to this class of molecules is psilocybin. Here, to elucidate the therapeutic potential and treatment modalities of this drug, we investigated the effect of psilocybin on alcohol drinking and seeking in genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats, a well validated animal model of AUD characterized by excessive drinking and seeking. Methods: Using male and female msP rats, we tested the effect of psilocybin on home cage voluntary alcohol consumption. We also tested the effect of the drug on the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) model of relapse and on cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking after a period of abstinence. Finally, we evaluated if psilocybin may disrupt the reconsolidation process of alcohol-related memory. Results: Psilocybin did not reduce alcohol consumption, nor it prevented increased alcohol drinking after a period of forced abstinence and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking. Noteworthy, in a memory retrieval-reconsolidation paradigm, psilocybin markedly attenuated resumption of alcohol seeking. Conclusions: Altogether these data suggest that, despite psilocybin does not affect alcohol drinking and relapse, it may be highly effective if used to block the reconsolidation process of alcohol-related memories. This opens to the possibility of using this psychedelic drug in clinical settings in which AUD patients undergo procedures to recall the memory of alcohol and are then treated with psilocybin during the memory reconsolidation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Psychopharmacology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Background: For most psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder (AUD), FDA-approved pharmacological treatments are limited and their efficacy is restricted to only certain subgroups of patients. Scientific interest in the potential of psychedelic drugs has dramatically increased because of clinical preliminary evidence of efficacy in treating various psychiatric disorders. One of the most promising compounds belonging to this class of molecules is psilocybin. Here, to elucidate the therapeutic potential and treatment modalities of this drug, we investigated the effect of psilocybin on alcohol drinking and seeking in genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats, a well validated animal model of AUD characterized by excessive drinking and seeking. Methods: Using male and female msP rats, we tested the effect of psilocybin on home cage voluntary alcohol consumption. We also tested the effect of the drug on the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) model of relapse and on cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking after a period of abstinence. Finally, we evaluated if psilocybin may disrupt the reconsolidation process of alcohol-related memory. Results: Psilocybin did not reduce alcohol consumption, nor it prevented increased alcohol drinking after a period of forced abstinence and cue-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking. Noteworthy, in a memory retrieval-reconsolidation paradigm, psilocybin markedly attenuated resumption of alcohol seeking. Conclusions: Altogether these data suggest that, despite psilocybin does not affect alcohol drinking and relapse, it may be highly effective if used to block the reconsolidation process of alcohol-related memories. This opens to the possibility of using this psychedelic drug in clinical settings in which AUD patients undergo procedures to recall the memory of alcohol and are then treated with psilocybin during the memory reconsolidation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 00333158 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00213-023-06384-w |
