Psilocybin reduces grooming in the SAPAP3 knockout mouse model of compulsive behaviour.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effects of acute psilocybin administration on compulsive-like behaviors in SAPAP3 knockout mice, a model for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
Results Summary
Acute psilocybin administration led to enduring reductions in compulsive behavior in male SAPAP3 KO mice and reduced grooming behavior in female WT and SAPAP3 KO mice, with effects lasting up to 1 week post-injection. Psilocybin increased locomotion in WT mice but not in KO mice, while the hallucinogenic-like head-twitch response was observed in both genotypes.
Population
Male and female SAPAP3 knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates.
Effective Dosage
1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (single dose).
Duration
Effects assessed at 1, 3, and 8 days post-injection.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
psilocybin | no change | anxiety-like behaviours | male and female SAPAP3 knockout (KO) mice | - | did not have any effect on | #1 |
acute psilocybin administration | decrease | compulsive behaviour | male SAPAP3 KO mice | - | led to enduring reductions in | #2 |
psilocybin | decrease | grooming behaviour | female wild-type (WT) and SAPAP3 KO mice | - | reduced | #3 |
psilocybin | increase | locomotion | WT littermates | - | increased | #4 |
psilocybin | no change | locomotion | SAPAP3 KO mice | - | not increased | #5 |
acute psilocybin | increase | head-twitch response | both genotypes | - | typical head-twitch response following | #6 |
acute psilocybin | decrease | compulsive-like behaviours | - | up to 1 week after a single injection | may have potential to reduce | #7 |
Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic compound which shows promise for treating compulsive behaviours. This is particularly pertinent as compulsive disorders require research into new pharmacological treatment options as the current frontline treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, require chronic administration, have significant side effects, and leave almost half of the clinical population refractory to treatment. In this study, we investigated psilocybin administration in male and female SAPAP3 knockout (KO) mice, a well-validated mouse model of obsessive compulsive and related disorders. We assessed the effects of acute psilocybin (1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) administration on head twitch and locomotor behaviour as well as anxiety- and compulsive-like behaviours at multiple time-points (1, 3 and 8 days post-injection). While psilocybin did not have any effect on anxiety-like behaviours, we revealed that acute psilocybin administration led to enduring reductions in compulsive behaviour in male SAPAP3 KO mice and reduced grooming behaviour in female wild-type (WT) and SAPAP3 KO mice. We also found that psilocybin increased locomotion in WT littermates but not in SAPAP3 KO mice, suggesting in vivo serotonergic dysfunctions in KO animals. On the other hand, the typical head-twitch response following acute psilocybin (confirming its hallucinogenic-like effect at this dose) was observed in both genotypes. Our novel findings suggest that acute psilocybin may have potential to reduce compulsive-like behaviours (up to 1 week after a single injection). Our study can inform future research directions as well as supporting the utility of psilocybin as a novel treatment option for compulsive disorders.