Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine on Depression-like Behavior in Juvenile Mice after Neonatal Dexamethasone Exposure.
- Author:
Su Xia LI
1
;
Ji Chun ZHANG
;
Jin WU
;
Kenji HASHIMOTO
Author Information
1. Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba, Japan. hashimoto@faculty.chiba-u.jp
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Depression;
Dexamethasone;
Ketamine;
NMDA receptors;
Antidepressants
- MeSH:
Animals;
Antidepressive Agents;
Depression;
Dexamethasone*;
Hindlimb Suspension;
Humans;
Ketamine*;
Mice*;
Models, Animal;
N-Methylaspartate;
Physical Exertion;
Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate;
Sucrose
- From:Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
2014;12(2):124-127
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Pediatric depression is associated with significant functional impairment at school and at work. Recently, we reported on depression-like behavior in juvenile mice neonatally exposed to dexamethasone (DEX) as a potential animal model for pediatric depression. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine has promoted rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant major depression. This study was conducted to examine whether ketamine had antidepressant effects in juvenile mice after neonatal DEX exposure. METHODS: A single dose (10 mg/kg) of ketamine or vehicle was injected into juvenile mice at days 29-32 after neonatal DEX (or saline) exposure (days 1-3). The sucrose preference test, tail suspension test, and forced swimming test were performed 24, 40, and 46 hours, respectively, after injection of ketamine. RESULTS: Ketamine (10 mg/kg) significantly improved depression-like behavior in DEX-treated juvenile mice. CONCLUSION: This finding suggests that ketamine confers antidepressant effects in an animal model of pediatric depression.
