PREDICTION OF N,N-DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE (DMT) AND HARMINE TRANSFER INTO BREAST MILK: ASSESSMENT OF NEONATAL EXPOSURE POTENTIAL USING IN VITRO MODELS

• Grant number: 25/13731-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: January 26, 2026
• End date: July 25, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Tania Marcourakis
• Grantee: Gabriella de Souza Gomes Ribeiro
• Supervisor: Pieter Annaert
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Leuven, Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/15903-8 - Application of Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetics (PBPK) in the prediction of drug interactions between DMT and harmine in ayahuasca and synthetic drugs: assessment of a neglected risk, BP.DR

Abstract

Ayahuasca is a psychedelic beverage traditionally used in religious and therapeutic rituals, composed of the alkaloids N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and ¿-carbolines, such as harmine (HRM). Despite the use of ayahuasca by pregnant and breastfeeding women, little is known about the transfer of these substances into breast milk and their potential effects on neonatal health. This study aims to investigate the passive and active permeability of the alkaloids DMT and HRM through the mammary epithelium using an in vitro model with human mammary epithelial cells (hMECs). The cells will be cultured under controlled conditions and maintained until a functional monolayer is formed in Transwell¿ inserts. Barrier integrity will be assessed by transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and permeability assays. Transfer experiments will be conducted in a bidirectional system, allowing analysis of the compounds' transport between the basal and apical sides. The collected samples will be analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) and efflux ratio (ER) will be calculated to determine whether transport occurs via passive or active mechanisms. These results will be fundamental to understanding the potential transfer of DMT and HRM through the mammary epithelium and to assess possible risks of neonatal exposure via breast milk, contributing to the development of safer guidelines regarding ayahuasca use during lactation. (AU)