validation of psilacetin as a prodrug yielding modestly lower peripheral psilocin exposure than psilocybin.

Introduction: The use of the psychedelic compound psilocybin in conjunction with psychotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, though the underlying mechanisms supporting these effects remain unclear. Psilocybin is a Schedule I substance that is dephosphorylated to form an active metabolite, psilocin. Psilacetin, also known as O-acetylpsilocin or 4-acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (4-AcO-DMT), is an unscheduled compound that has long been suggested as an alternative psilocin prodrug, though direct support for this hypothesis has thus far been lacking.

Transient Elevation of Plasma Glucocorticoids Supports Psilocybin-Induced Anxiolysis in Mice.

While correlations between drug-induced cortisol elevation, self-reported anxiety, and treatment outcomes have been reported for human studies during psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, the mechanistic relationship between psychedelic-associated alterations in plasma glucocorticoid responses and the time course of anxious responsiveness remains unclear. Using rodents, both time-bound manipulation of glucocorticoid concentrations and assessment of anxiety-like behaviors can be achieved. Here, 3 mg/kg IP psilocybin was found to have anxiolytic-like effects in C57BL/6 male mice at 4 h after treatment.

Catalysts for change: the cellular neurobiology of psychedelics.

The resurgence of interest in the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for treating psychiatric disorders has rekindled efforts to elucidate their mechanism of action. In this Perspective, we focus on the ability of psychedelics to promote , postulated to be central to their therapeutic activity. We begin with a brief overview of the history and behavioral effects of the classical psychedelics.

Myrmecomorba nylanderiae gen. et sp. nov., a microsporidian parasite of the tawny crazy ant Nylanderia fulva.

A new microsporidian genus and species, Myrmecomorba nylanderiae, is described from North American populations of the tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva. This new species was found to be heterosporous producing several types of binucleate spores in both larval and adult stages and an abortive octosporoblastic sporogony in adult ants. While microsporidia are widespread arthropod parasites, this description represents only the fifth species described from an ant host.

Chemical warfare among invaders: a detoxification interaction facilitates an ant invasion.

As tawny crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva) invade the southern United States, they often displace imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). After exposure to S. invicta venom, N.