Association between S-ketamine induced changes in glutamate levels in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor in healthy subjects.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Ketamine's rapid antidepressant potential is linked to unique brain changes. Researchers investigated if ketamine's influence on glutamate levels in the anterior cingulate cortex connects to brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, they observed that after ketamine administration, positive shifts in glutamate levels were associated with increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This strongly supports that ketamine's positive effects on brain health and potential in depression treatment are intricately tied to its glutamatergic action.
Abstract
Ketamine's antidepressant effects have been linked to its modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. However, the precise roles of both glutamate (Glu) levels and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in this process remain incompletely understood. This study examined the relationship between ketamine-induced changes in Glu levels and peripheral BDNF levels using data from a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover design. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (7 Tesla 1H-MRS) assessing Glu concentrations in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) and plasma BDNF levels were measured one hour before and 24 hours after either S-ketamine or placebo infusions in 35 healthy male subjects. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant interaction between treatment condition and relative changes in Glu on BDNF level changes, with a trend-level positive correlation between changes in Glu and BDNF levels observed only in the ketamine group. These findings provide initial in vivo support for the hypothesis that ketamine's effects on BDNF dynamics are linked to its glutamatergic action.