Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Eye Movements Induced by Ketamine in the Rat
G. P. Biral, C. Benassi, F. Lui, R. Corazza
1994 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-81808-9.50032-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational animal study |
|---|---|
| Population | Long-Evans rats |
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Duration | Eye movements recorded up to seven hours after injection; flutter-like pattern lasted about one hour |
| Measures | phase detection search coil apparatus |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key findings | Ketamine produced a flutter-like oculomotor pattern in rats lasting about one hour, with normal saccades but an inability to hold post-saccadic gaze position, causing a quick drift back after each saccade. The authors propose this reflects sustained activation of the saccade generator plus suppression of the neural integrator; post-saccadic drift persisted after arousal even as paroxysmal motility stopped. |
Abstract
Eye movements up to seven hours after ketamine injection were recorded in Long-Evans rats by means of a phase detection search coil apparatus. A flutter-like oculomotor pattern immediately appeared after drug administration lasting about one hour and was characterized by unidirectional slow eye movements with superimposed bursts of saccades. While saccadic dynamics was always within the normal range, the eyes were unable to maintain a steady post-saccadic position. Every saccade was followed by a quick drift back towards the initial position. As the rat aroused, paroxysmal ocular motility stopped and spontaneous well isolated, now bidirectional saccades appeared. The post-saccadic drift persisted. Ocular flutter-like behavior could result from a sustained activation of the saccade generator, whereas impairment of gaze holding might be due to the neural integrator suppression.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| mTOR-Dependent Synapse Formation Underlies the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of NMDA Antagonists Rats | 2010 | Observational study | |
| Activation of Glutamatergic Neurotransmission by Ketamine: A Novel Step in the Pathway from NMDA Receptor Blockade to Dopaminergic and Cognitive Disruptions Associated with the Prefrontal Cortex Conscious rats | 1997 | Dose-response study with microdialysis and behavioral testing | |
| NMDAR inhibition-independent antidepressant actions of ketamine metabolites Mice | 2016 | Preclinical study | |
| The dissociative anaesthetics, ketamine and phencyclidine, selectively reduce excitation of central mammalian neurones by N‐methyl‐aspartate Spinal neurons in decerebrate or pentobarbitone-anaesthetized cats and rats | 1983 | Experimental study | |
| R-ketamine: a rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant without psychotomimetic side effects Mice | 2015 | Experimental study |