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Lack of antidepressant effects of low-voltage-sensitive T-type calcium channel blocker ethosuximide in a chronic social defeat stress model: Comparison with (R)-ketamine

Z. Ryan Tian, Chao Dong, Kai Zhang, Lijia Chang, Kenji Hashimoto

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology August 4, 2018 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyy072 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Preclinical animal study Peer reviewed
Population Chronic social defeat stress-susceptible mice
Interventions Ethosuximide (R)-ketamine saline
Dose Ethosuximide 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg; (R)-ketamine 10 mg/kg
Measures locomotion test, tail suspension test, forced swimming test, 1% sucrose preference test
Topics Esketamine Ketamine
Citations 18
Key points (R)-ketamine (10 mg/kg) showed rapid and long-lasting antidepressant actions in chronic social defeat stress-susceptible mice, whereas ethosuximide at 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg did not reduce immobility in the tail suspension or forced swimming tests and did not improve sucrose preference. The authors conclude that low-voltage-sensitive T-type calcium channel inhibitors are unlikely to have ketamine-like antidepressant actions.

Abstract

Background: A recent study demonstrated that low-voltage-sensitive T-type calcium channel blocker ethosuximide shows rapid antidepressant actions. This study was conducted to compare the antidepressant actions of ethosuximide and (R)-ketamine in a chronic social defeat stress model.

Methods: Ethosuximide (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg), (R)-ketamine (10 mg/kg), or saline was administered i.p. to chronic social defeat stress-susceptible mice. Subsequently, locomotion test, tail suspension test, forced swimming test, and 1% sucrose preference test were performed.

Results: (R)-ketamine showed rapid and long-lasting antidepressant actions in chronic social defeat stress-susceptible mice. In contrast, ethosuximide did not attenuate the increased immobility time of tail suspension test and forced swimming test in chronic social defeat stress-susceptible mice. In the sucrose preference test, ethosuximide did not improve decreased sucrose preference in chronic social defeat stress-susceptible mice.

Conclusions: Unlike (R)-ketamine, ethosuximide did not show rapid and sustained antidepressant effects in a chronic social defeat stress model. Therefore, it is unlikely that low-voltage-sensitive T-type calcium channel inhibitors may have ketamine-like robust antidepressant actions.

Comparable studies

Other preclinical and animal studies on ketamine, most cited first.

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