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Updated: Jun 14, 2025
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Microdissection of Mouse Brain into Functionally and Anatomically Different Regions
Published on: February 15, 2021
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Effects of Psilocybin on Mouse Brain Microstructure.
Paloma C Frautschi1, Ajay P Singh1,2, Nicholas A Stowe3,4
1From the Department of Radiology (P.C.F., A.P.S., J.-P.J.Y.), University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|January 29, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin treatment altered brain microstructure in mice, detectable by diffusion MRI. These findings highlight diffusion imaging
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Surging interest in psilocybin for treating major depressive disorder (MDD).
- Limited understanding of the biological mechanisms behind psilocybin's rapid antidepressant effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the feasibility of using diffusion MRI to detect spatiotemporal microstructural brain differences after psilocybin treatment in mice.
- To characterize neural substrates and microstructural changes associated with psilocybin administration.
Main Methods:
- Male C57BL/6J mice received psilocybin, 6-fluoro-N, N-diethyltryptamine, or saline.
- Ex vivo diffusion MRI (DTI, NODDI) and tractography were performed 24 and 72 hours posttreatment.
- One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction analyzed diffusion metrics in key brain regions.
Main Results:
- Psilocybin induced microstructural differences in the primary visual cortex (24h), striatum (72h), and hippocampus (72h).
- Structural connectivity differences were observed in the frontal association cortex at 72 hours post-psilocybin.
- Specific changes included increased mean diffusivity and decreased neurite density index in certain regions.
Conclusions:
- Diffusion MRI and tractography are sensitive to psilocybin-induced neural and microstructural changes.
- Diffusion imaging may quantify psychedelic bioeffects, monitor treatment response, and identify clinical endpoints for MDD therapies.
