Acute effects of ketamine in the holeboard, the elevated‐plus maze, and the social interaction test in Wistar rats
J. Silvestre, R. Nadal, M. Pallarés, N. Ferré
Depression and Anxiety 1997 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1520-6394(1997)5:1<29::aid-da5>3.0.co;2-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Controlled experimental animal study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adult male Wistar rats |
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Dose | 7 mg/kg |
| Measures | holeboard test, social interaction test, elevated plus-maze |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key findings | An acute 7 mg/kg dose of ketamine reduced active social interaction, rearings, and central activity in the social interaction test and reduced open-arm entries and open-arm time in the elevated plus-maze, while head dipping was unchanged and crossings increased in the holeboard. The authors interpret these results as suggesting an anxiogenic-like effect of ketamine, in contrast with earlier findings for noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists, and more similar to effects described for stimulants. |
Abstract
Although noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists have shown an anxiolyticlike profile in several studies, such effects have not been observed consistently. Previous studies with ketamine, a noncompetitive NMDA antagonist, have employed only shock tests of anxiety based on conflict procedures. In the present experiment, the effect of an acute low dose of ketamine (7 mg/kg) was examined in adult male Wistar rats tested in three nonconflict tests: holeboard, social interaction, and elevated plus‐maze paradigms. The results showed that ketamine decreased time spent in active social interaction and the number of rearings and central activity in the social interaction test. It also decreased the number of entries into and the percentage of time spent in open arms and the total number of entries in the elevated plus‐maze. No significant effect was observed in head dipping in the holeboard test, although the number of crossings did increase. These results suggest an anxiogeniclike effect of ketamine in contrast with results previously described for noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists. These effects of ketamine are more similar to those described for stimulant drugs such as caffeine, cocaine, or amphetamine in anxiety tests. Depression and Anxiety 5:29–33, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 22
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- Comparison of the Psychopharmacological Effects of Tiletamine and Ketamine in Rodents Neurotoxicity Research June 2, 2017
- The interactive effects of ketamine and magnesium upon depressive-like pathology Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment September 1, 2016
- Ketamine retards recovery from reward downshift and supports conditioned taste aversion. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior October 28, 2023
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