Sheida Shadani, Kyna Conn, Zane B Andrews, Claire J Foldi
{"title":"Potential Differences in Psychedelic Actions Based on Biological Sex.","authors":"Sheida Shadani, Kyna Conn, Zane B Andrews, Claire J Foldi","doi":"10.1210/endocr/bqae083","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The resurgence of interest in psychedelics as treatments for psychiatric disorders necessitates a better understanding of potential sex differences in response to these substances. Sex as a biological variable (SABV) has been historically neglected in medical research, posing limits to our understanding of treatment efficacy. Human studies have provided insights into the efficacy of psychedelics across various diagnoses and aspects of cognition, yet sex-specific effects remain unclear, making it difficult to draw strong conclusions about sex-dependent differences in response to psychedelic treatments. Compounding this further, animal studies used to understand biological mechanisms of psychedelics predominantly use one sex and present mixed neurobiological and behavioral outcomes. Studies that do include both sexes often do not investigate sex differences further, which may hinder the translation of findings to the clinic. In reviewing sex differences in responses to psychedelics, we will highlight the direct interaction between estrogen (the most extensively studied steroid hormone) and the serotonin system (central to the mechanism of action of psychedelics), and the potential that estrogen-serotonin interactions may influence the efficacy of psychedelics in female participants. Estrogen influences serotonin neurotransmission by affecting its synthesis and release, as well as modulating the sensitivity and responsiveness of serotonin receptor subtypes in the brain. This could potentially influence the efficacy of psychedelics in females by modifying their therapeutic efficacy across menstrual cycles and developmental stages. Investigating this interaction in the context of psychedelic research could aid in the advancement of therapeutic outcomes, especially for conditions with sex-specific prevalence.</p>","PeriodicalId":11819,"journal":{"name":"Endocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11259856/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Endocrinology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqae083","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The resurgence of interest in psychedelics as treatments for psychiatric disorders necessitates a better understanding of potential sex differences in response to these substances. Sex as a biological variable (SABV) has been historically neglected in medical research, posing limits to our understanding of treatment efficacy. Human studies have provided insights into the efficacy of psychedelics across various diagnoses and aspects of cognition, yet sex-specific effects remain unclear, making it difficult to draw strong conclusions about sex-dependent differences in response to psychedelic treatments. Compounding this further, animal studies used to understand biological mechanisms of psychedelics predominantly use one sex and present mixed neurobiological and behavioral outcomes. Studies that do include both sexes often do not investigate sex differences further, which may hinder the translation of findings to the clinic. In reviewing sex differences in responses to psychedelics, we will highlight the direct interaction between estrogen (the most extensively studied steroid hormone) and the serotonin system (central to the mechanism of action of psychedelics), and the potential that estrogen-serotonin interactions may influence the efficacy of psychedelics in female participants. Estrogen influences serotonin neurotransmission by affecting its synthesis and release, as well as modulating the sensitivity and responsiveness of serotonin receptor subtypes in the brain. This could potentially influence the efficacy of psychedelics in females by modifying their therapeutic efficacy across menstrual cycles and developmental stages. Investigating this interaction in the context of psychedelic research could aid in the advancement of therapeutic outcomes, especially for conditions with sex-specific prevalence.
期刊介绍:
The mission of Endocrinology is to be the authoritative source of emerging hormone science and to disseminate that new knowledge to scientists, clinicians, and the public in a way that will enable "hormone science to health." Endocrinology welcomes the submission of original research investigating endocrine systems and diseases at all levels of biological organization, incorporating molecular mechanistic studies, such as hormone-receptor interactions, in all areas of endocrinology, as well as cross-disciplinary and integrative studies. The editors of Endocrinology encourage the submission of research in emerging areas not traditionally recognized as endocrinology or metabolism in addition to the following traditionally recognized fields: Adrenal; Bone Health and Osteoporosis; Cardiovascular Endocrinology; Diabetes; Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals; Endocrine Neoplasia and Cancer; Growth; Neuroendocrinology; Nuclear Receptors and Their Ligands; Obesity; Reproductive Endocrinology; Signaling Pathways; and Thyroid.