Sex-Specific Neuropsychiatric Effects of Subanesthetic Ketamine Exposure in Pregnant Mice and Their Offspring.

ABSTRACT: Depression during pregnancy is often overlooked and undertreated. Ketamine has been shown to exert prompt and sustained antidepressant effects in patients with depression, although concerns of potential neurotoxicity prohibit its use in pregnant women. Here, we aim to investigate the neurobehavioral effects of subanesthetic ketamine on pregnant mice and their offspring. We found that pregnant C57BL/6 mice receiving ketamine (10 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal) from gestation day 15 to 17 exhibited less depression-like behaviors. Prenatal ketamine treatment induced male-specific reduction in depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in adult offspring, without alterations in social and memory performance. These behavioral outcomes were associated with a male-specific increase in dendritic spine dens

SUBMITTER: Lin WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12276194 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature