Part of the Neuron Affected, Inhibitory or Excitatory Potential Changes and Ion Channels Affected by Psilocybin

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Part of the Neuron Affected, Inhibitory or Excitatory Potential

Changes and Ion Channels Affected by Psilocybin

Psilocybin belongs to the classification of drugs called

hallucinogens. Hallucinogens typically act by stimulating

serotonin receptors at different times or for longer durations

than serotonin itself would (Kalat 2004). When psilocybin enters

the brain, the enzyme alkaline breaks down one of its phosphate

groups through hydrolysis. It then becomes psilocin, an even

stronger hallucinogen (Psilocybin 2003). It is particularly

potent due to the position of its hydroxyl group (Jacobs 1984).

Psilocin is a postsynaptic serotonin receptor agonist. In other

words, its similar structure allows it to mimic serotonin,

fitting into some types of serotonin receptors and producing the

same effect as endogenous serotonin (Merriam Webster 2003).

Specifically, psilocin activates the 5HT2A and 5HT1A receptors.

Stimulation of 5HT1 receptors is associated with an inhibitory

response while stimulation of the 5HT2 receptors is associated

with an excitatory response. Soma of the serotonergic neurons

are located in the midline raphe nuclei of the pons and in the

medulla oblongata. Axons extend to the basal ganglia,

hypothalamus, limbic forebrain, parts of the cerebral cortex,

and to the spinal cord (Kruk and Pycock 1979). Functions

believed to be moderated by serotonin include sleep, mood,

arousal, control of motor activity, hunger, thermoregulation,

and some neuroendocrine control mechanisms in the hypothalamus.

(Powell 2004, Kruk and Pycock 1979).

One theory states that effects caused by psilocin result from

stimulation of receptors in the raphe nuclei. According to this

theory, the...

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