Astrocytic μ-δ opioid receptor heterodimers mediate the antidepressant effects of ketamine’s metabolite
bioRxiv June 3, 2026 Shuo Yang, Ling-Jun Wang, Yunxiang Sun et al.
Abstract A deeper understanding of the targets and mechanisms of fast-acting antidepressants, exemplified by ketamine, remains indispensable for better therapeutic strategies and understanding depression. Beyond the canonical neuron-centric NMDAR inhibition hypothesis, brain opioid system and glia-mediated processes are increasingly implicated in ketamine’s antidepressant efficacy, yet their...