bioRxiv : the preprint server for biologyNov 19, 2025

Psychedelic use during pregnancy may disturb brain growth and behavior in mouse offspring

Psychedelic Science Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jun 27, 2026

Abstract

Essence

Prenatal LSD and related psychedelics reached embryonic CSF in mice and were linked to lasting brain and behavior changes in offspring.

Evidence

This mouse preclinical study tracked placental LSD transfer at E12.5 and E16.5, choroid plexus responses, postnatal cortical organization, and adult offspring behaviors after single or repeated gestational exposure.

Caveat

The findings come from mouse embryonic exposure models, with male-biased effects and no direct human pregnancy outcome data.

Simplified

Despite increasing non-medical use and clinical investigation of psychedelics, the consequences of prenatal exposure remain unknown. In mice, maternal lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD; 0.3 mg kg) crossed the placenta, appearing in embryonic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within minutes at E12.5 and E16.5. Within 30 minutes, LSD and other serotonergic psychedelics induced a 5-HTC agonist-like response in the choroid plexus, triggering apical remodeling and increasing CSF protein. A single E12.5 exposure altered cerebral cortical laminar organization and composition at postnatal day 8, and repeated dosing (E12.5-E16.5) amplified male-biased shifts from SATB2to CTIP2neuronal identities and increased microglia. Adult offspring showed reduced prepulse inhibition (male-predominant) and rotational stereotypy. These data identify an embryo-facing interface that detects maternal psychedelics and link CSF access to enduring neurodevelopmental and behavioral consequences. -1 + + 2