Roles of orexinergic and noradrenergic neuronal activity in ketamine-induced sedation: a study using an orexin-ataxin-3 transgenic rat model.
Journal of anesthesia – June 09, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Ketamine's sedative effects are intricately linked to two key brain chemicals: orexin and noradrenaline. Research reveals that these neural messengers work together to control how deeply we're sedated by ketamine. Using specially engineered rats lacking orexin-producing brain cells, scientists found that both orexin and brain noradrenergic neurons are essential for normal sedation patterns. When either system is disrupted, ketamine's effectiveness changes significantly.
Abstract
To investigate the role of brain noradrenergic and orexinergic activity in ketamine-induced sedation. We used orexin neuron-deficient transgenic rats (orexin/ataxin-3) and wild-type controls. Noradrenaline and orexin levels were measured in the pons, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex. Ketamine-induced loss-of-righting reflex (LORR) was assessed under modulation of noradrenergic or orexinergic activity. Wild-type rats had higher noradrenaline and orexin levels than transgenic rats across all regions except hypothalamic noradrenaline. Noradrenaline and orexin were correlated in the pons and cortex. Transgenic rats had a shorter LORR duration than wild-type rats (36.3 ± 10.4 vs. 46.7 ± 5.2 min, P = 0.002). Noradrenergic activation via intraperitoneal yohimbine prolonged LORR in both genotypes (wild-type: 38.8 ± 4.9 vs. 71.9 ± 15.3 min at 3.3 mg/kg, P = 0.002; transgenic: 28.1 ± 3.9 vs. 71.9 ± 24.8 min, P < 0.001). Noradrenergic deactivation by DSP4 reduced LORR duration (wild-type: 43.3 ± 2.18 vs. 36.4 ± 6.0 min, P = 0.005). Intracerebroventricular orexin (1.0 nmol) shortened LORR (44.0 ± 16.7 vs. 30.1 ± 15.5 min, P = 0.001), but co-administration of selective orexin type 1 receptor antagonist YNT-1310 (100 nmol) counteracted this effect. Notably, orexin or DSP4 reduced LORR duration in wild-type rats but prolonged it in transgenic rats (e.g., wild-type: 40.8 ± 6.2 vs. 32.5 ± 5.3 min with orexin, P = 0.0001; transgenic 28.6 ± 6.2 vs. 42.1 ± 5.6 min, P = 0.0026). Orexin-preserved noradrenergic activity supports the typical ketamine-induced sedation profile, highlighting their interactive role in modulating anesthetic depth.