Effects of ketamine on sensory perception: evidence for a role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.
I. Øye, O. Paulsen, A. Maurset
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics March 1, 1992 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3565(25)11430-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy volunteers (human participants); brain homogenate membrane fractions in binding assays |
| Intervention | (R)-ketamine |
| Dose | subanesthetic doses |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key points | Both ketamine enantiomers displaced [3H]dizocilpine from phencyclidine sites in brain membranes, with (S)-ketamine at least 4 times as potent as (R)-ketamine. In healthy volunteers, subanesthetic doses of both enantiomers altered sensory perception, and (S)-ketamine was 4 times as potent at reducing pain perception and causing auditory and visual disturbances. The authors argue these results support the hypothesis that ketamine's subanesthetic effects on sensory perception arise from NMDA-receptor blockade. |
Abstract
The chiral forms of ketamine were applied as probes for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated neurotransmission in humans. Both enantiomers, in clinically relevant concentrations, displaced [3H]dizocilpine (MK 801) from specific binding sites (phencyclidine sites) in membrane fractions of brain homogenates. (S)-Ketamine was at least 4 times as potent as (R)-ketamine in this respect. In healthy volunteers, the most obvious effect of subanesthetic doses of both enantiomers was altered sensory perception. (S)-Ketamine was 4 times as potent as (R)-ketamine in reducing pain perception and in causing auditory and visual disturbances. Both enantiomers caused proprioceptive disturbances (feelings of detachment from the body) and slightly reduced the ability to recall objects seen after administration of the drugs. The ability to recall objects seen immediately before drug exposure was unaffected. The results are in accordance with the hypothesis that inhibition of sensory perception by ketamine in subanesthetic concentrations is due to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blockade. It is suggested that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated transmission is involved in the processing of sensory information in the human brain.