BACKGROUND: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a non-competitive inhibitor of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) that appears to have ketamine-like rapid antidepressant effects in patients with treatment resistant major depression. In preclinical studies, ketamine enhances glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The present study examined effects of N2O on glutamate transmission...