Effects of hallucinogenic agents mescaline and phencyclidine on zebrafish behavior and physiology
Evan J. Kyzar, Christopher Collins, Siddharth Gaikwad, Jeremy Green, Andrew Roth, Louis Monnig, Mohamed El-Ounsi, Ari Davis, Andrew J. Freeman, Nicholas Capezio, Adam Stewart, Allan V. Kalueff
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry January 10, 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2012.01.003 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMescaline and phencyclidine (PCP) dose-dependently increased top activity in the novel tank test, reduced immobility, and disrupted swimming patterns in zebrafish. PCP, but not mescaline, evoked circling behavior in the open field test. At the highest doses tested, mescaline markedly increased shoaling behavior, while PCP did not affect it. Whole-body cortisol levels were unchanged by 20 mg/l mescaline but elevated by 3 mg/l PCP. These findings indicate that zebrafish models are sensitive to hallucinogenic compounds, producing complex behavioral and physiological effects.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Zebrafish (Danio rerio) |
| Interventions | Mescaline Phencyclidine (PCP) |
| Dose | 5-20 mg/l mescaline, 0.5-3 mg/l PCP |
| Topics | Mescaline |
| Keywords | Hallucinogen Phencyclidine Zebrafish Danio |
| Citations | 122 |
| Key finding | Mescaline and PCP dose-dependently altered zebrafish behavior in the novel tank, open field, and shoaling tests, with PCP uniquely evoking circling behavior and elevating cortisol levels. |
Abstract
Mescaline and phencyclidine (PCP) are potent hallucinogenic agents affecting human and animal behavior. As their psychotropic effects remain poorly understood, further research is necessary to characterize phenotypes they evoke in various animal models. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are rapidly emerging as a new model organism for neuroscience research. Here, we examine the effects of mescaline (5-20mg/l) and PCP (0.5-3mg/l) in several zebrafish paradigms, including the novel tank, open field and shoaling tests. Mescaline and PCP dose-dependently increased top activity in the novel tank test, also reducing immobility and disrupting the patterning of zebrafish swimming, as assessed by ethograms. PCP, but not mescaline, evoked circling behavior in the open field test. At the highest doses tested, mescaline markedly increased, while PCP did not affect, zebrafish shoaling behavior. Finally, 20mg/l mescaline did not alter, and 3mg/l PCP elevated, whole-body cortisol levels. Overall, our studies indicate high sensitivity of zebrafish models to hallucinogenic compounds with complex behavioral and physiological effects.