LSD analogue with potential for treating schizophrenia developed - ScienceDaily

LSD analogue JRT is reported to promote neuroplasticity while reducing hallucinogenic potential, with potential for treating schizophrenia and related disorders. University of California, Davis researchers generated JRT by making a minimal two-atom swap in LSD's molecular structure, aiming to preserve neurotherapeutic effects but improve selectivity. In cellular and mouse assays, JRT showed neuroplastic effects including increased dendritic spine and synapse density in the prefrontal cortex, without the hallucinogenic-like behaviors associated with LSD dosing in mice. The work also reports reduced gene expression associated with schizophrenia, targeted negative and cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia-relevant mouse measures, and antidepressant-like effects reported as far more potent than ketamine. The team says it is now testing JRT in additional disease models and creating new analogues.