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The selective 5-HT2A receptor agonist 25CN-NBOH does not affect reversal learning in mice
Anna U Odland1, Jesper L Kristensen, Jesper T Andreasen
1Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Behavioural Pharmacology
|February 17, 2021
Summary
The psychedelic drug 25CN-NBOH, a 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonist, did not impact cognitive flexibility in mice. This study found no effects on reversal learning, a measure of cognitive flexibility.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Psychedelic 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) agonists show potential for treating psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety.
- Enhanced cognitive flexibility in humans is hypothesized to contribute to the clinical effectiveness of these compounds.
- However, existing research on 5-HT2AR ligands presents conflicting findings regarding their effects on cognitive flexibility, creating an equivocal link.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of the selective 5-HT2AR agonist 25CN-NBOH on reversal learning in mice.
- To clarify the relationship between 5-HT2AR pharmacology and cognitive flexibility.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a touchscreen-based reversal learning test in healthy male C57BL/6JOlaHsd mice.
- Administered the selective 5-HT2AR agonist 25CN-NBOH.
Main Results:
- No significant effects of 25CN-NBOH were observed on the acquisition of new stimulus-reward associations.
- The drug did not influence learning errors or perseverative responses during the reversal learning task.
- Results indicate that 25CN-NBOH does not affect reversal learning under the experimental conditions employed.
Conclusions:
- The selective 5-HT2AR agonist 25CN-NBOH did not alter cognitive flexibility as measured by reversal learning in this mouse model.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between 5-HT2AR activity and cognitive flexibility in the context of psychedelic drug action.
