PUBLICATION

The Zebrafish for Preclinical Psilocybin Research

Authors
Syed, O., Tsang, B., Gerlai, R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-230910-68
Date
2023
Source
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews   153: 105381 (Review)
Registered Authors
Gerlai, Robert T.
Keywords
affective disorders, anxiety, psilocybin, psychedelics, social behavior, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Anxiety
  • Anxiety Disorders/drug therapy
  • Hallucinogens*/pharmacology
  • Hallucinogens*/therapeutic use
  • Psilocybin*/pharmacology
  • Psilocybin*/therapeutic use
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
37689090 Full text @ Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev.
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the possible utility of zebrafish in research on psilocybin, a psychedelic drug whose recreational use as well as possible clinical application are gaining increasing interest. First, we review behavioral tests with zebrafish, focussing on anxiety and social behavior, which have particular relevance in the context of psilocybin research. Next, we briefly consider methods of genetic manipulations with which psilocybin's phenotypical effects and underlying mechanisms may be investigated in zebrafish. We briefly review the known mechanisms of psilocybin, and also discuss what we know about its safety and toxicity profile. Last, we discuss examples of how psilocybin may be employed for testing treatment efficacy in preclinical research for affective disorders in zebrafish. We conclude that zebrafish has a promising future in preclinical research on psychedelic drugs.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping