Ketamine, a general anesthetic, has rapid and sustained antidepressant effects when administered at lower doses. Anesthetic levels of ketamine reduce excitatory transmission by binding deep into the pore of NMDA receptors where it blocks current influx. In contrast, the molecular targets responsible for antidepressant levels of ketamine remain controversial. We used electrophysiology,...
Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, is experiencing a clinical resurgence as a fast-acting antidepressant. In the central nervous system, ketamine acts primarily by blocking NMDA receptor currents. Although it is generally safe in a clinical setting, it can be addictive, and several of its derivatives are being investigated as preferable alternatives. 2R,6R-Hydroxynorketamine (HNK), a ketamine...