Rapid and long-lasting antidepressant-like effects of ketamine and their relationship with the expression of brain enzymes, BDNF, and astrocytes
Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas December 18, 2020 G.S.B. Viana, E.M. Do Vale, Ana Giullia de Alencar Araújo et al.
A single oral dose of ketamine (5 or 10 mg/kg) produced rapid (30 minutes) and long-lasting (up to 30 days) antidepressant-like effects in male Swiss mice, measured by the forced swim test. The tricyclic antidepressant imipramine served as a reference. Ketamine reduced immunoreactivity for GSK-3 and HDAC in several brain regions, especially the prefrontal cortex, and increased BDNF immunostaining in the prefrontal cortex, dentate gyrus, CA1, and CA3 areas at both 1 and 30 days after injection. GFAP immunoreactivity also increased in the prefrontal cortex and striatum at both time points. The authors conclude that ketamine alters brain BDNF and GFAP expression for 30 days after a single dose, but further studies are needed to explain the mechanisms of its sustained effects.