Synaptic potentiation is critical for rapid antidepressant response to ketamine in treatment-resistant major depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clinical evidence that ketamine, a nonselective N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, has therapeutic effects within hours in people suffering from depression suggests that modulating glutamatergic neurotransmission is a fundamental step in alleviating the debilitating symptoms of mood disorders. Acutely, ketamine increases extracellular glutamate levels, neuronal excitability, and spontaneous γ oscillations, but it is unknown whether these effects are key to the mechanism of antidepressant action of ketamine.

Methods

Twenty drug-free major depressive disorder patients received a single, open-label intravenous infusion of ketamine hydrochloride (.5 mg/kg). Magnetoencephalographic recordings were made approximately 3 days before and approximately 6.5 ho

SUBMITTER: Cornwell BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3408548 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature