Transient Stimulation with Psychoplastogens Is Sufficient to Initiate Neuronal Growth
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science September 11, 2020 Calvin Ly, Alexandra C. Greb, Maxemiliano V. Vargas et al. 127 citations
Cortical neuron atrophy, including neurite retraction and spine loss, is a hallmark of depression. Psychoplastogens are small molecules hypothesized to reverse these changes. Ketamine and LSD, from two structurally distinct chemical classes, promote sustained growth of cortical neurons after brief stimulation. This growth occurs in two phases: an initial stimulation phase requiring TrkB activation, followed by a growth period needing sustained mTOR and AMPA receptor activation. These temporal details suggest that rapidly excreted psychoplastogens could be effective neurotherapeutics with advantages over ketamine and LSD.