The Selective Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor Agonist (S)-3-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine (LPH-5) Induces Persistent and Robust Antidepressant-Like Effects in Rodents

A new compound, LPH-5, acts as a potent partial agonist at the 5-HT2A receptor with high selectivity over related 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C receptors. In rats, LPH-5 induced head-twitch responses and produced both acute and persistent antidepressant-like effects. These findings suggest that selective activation of the 5-HT2A receptor alone can produce antidepressant effects, indicating that this receptor is a key component in the therapeutic action of classical psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychedelics have emerged as a promising treatment for mental health disease, and the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is presently being pursued in numerous clinical trials. This has prompted a search for novel agents with more specific pharmacological activities than the rather promiscuous classical psychedelics. Here we present the detailed pharmacological characterization of one such compound, LPH-5 [(S)-3-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl)-piperidine]. LPH-5 was found to be a potent partial agonist at the 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) with pronounced selectivity for 5-HT2AR over the related 5-HT2BR and 5-HT2CR in a range of functional assays. LPH-5 dose-dependently induced head-twitch responses (HTR) as well as robust acute and persistent antidepressant-like effects in rats. These results suggest that selective 5-HT2AR activation holds antidepressant potential and indicate that this activity component is key for the therapeutics effects of classical psychedelics.